North Okanagan RCMP urges deterrence as gas theft continues in region – Okanagan | 24CA News

While Okanagan, B.C. fuel costs are not at historic highs, the issue of fuel theft has not gone away. Just a few  North Okanagan motorists have reported fuel thefts in current weeks.

Although police should not calling it a pattern, they’ve just a few tricks to preserve your automobile protected.

On Wednesday morning, SilverStar resident Keira Hindle discovered her truck had been focused by fuel thieves on the ski hill. The truck’s tank was punctured and empty.

“There was a fresh drill hole in our gas tank you could see the fresh metal sort of spiraling out and [there] was just gas everywhere on the ground,” stated Hindle.

“It’s irritating. Lots of people suppose that those that dwell up at SilverStar have cash and have ease and entry to issues and it’s not true. There are a number of common those that dwell up there and it’s now going to take us a few weeks to get [the vehicle] sorted and stuck.

In a separate fuel theft try within the Mission Hill neighbourhood of Vernon final week an individual dressed all in black was caught on surveillance video approaching autos with a jerry can.

The fuel tank of a truck within the parking zone was later discovered to be punctured and drained. (The broken automobile belongs to this reporter’s associate.)

The area isn’t any stranger to fuel thefts. Last spring, amid spiking gas costs, there was a spate of thefts reported within the North and Central Okanagan.

Now the North Okanagan RCMP says that primarily based on the incidents which have been reported to police, there not seems to be any pattern or noticeable enhance in such a crime.

However, because the current circumstances present, the drop-off in gas costs hasn’t completely ended the difficulty.

To deter gas thieves the RCMP recommends drivers park in well-lit and well-travelled areas, set up locking fuel caps, arrange surveillance and report felony exercise to the police.

In her case, Hindle believes the thief solely bought away with at most about 15 litres.

“I really don’t understand it…it wouldn’t have benefited them that much and it is costing us a lot of money to have our gas tank repaired,” she stated.

She’s urging drivers to control their automobiles.

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Okanagan drivers report spate of fuel thefts

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