24 June 2010

Thieves Targeting Local Visitor Attractions

Visitors enjoy strolls through the Othello-Quintette Tunnels.

Othello British Columbia - Over the past two weeks a rash of thefts from vehicles have occurred in the Hope and Bridal Falls area so the staff at the Hope Visitor Centre, along with the Hope Crime Prevention Society and the Hope RCMP, are once again reminding both visitors and locals to take precautions when parking in remote locations.
 
"Do not leave any valuables in plain sight in your vehicle. Purses, cameras, electronic devices, identification, and travel documents plus cash should ideally be taken with you and your remaining possessions should be kept in the locked trunk of your car," says Hope Visitor Centre manager, Inge Wilson.
 
Car alarms should also be armed and any suspicious vehicles or behavior should be reported, adds Wilson.
 
And "be aware of who is in the parking lot and who might be watching to see where you hide your possessions.
 
"Visitors who plan to go to attractions where parking lots are not visible to passersby should be urged to take these special precautions." These areas include the numerous Provincial Parks in the Hope area including the Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park (home of the Othello-Quintette Tunnels), Silver Lake Provincial Park, the Alexandra Bridge Provincial Park, and Bridal Falls Provincial Park.
 
The Hope RCMP Detachment and the Hope Crime Prevention Society are undertaking a number of special measures to combat theft but the public is asked to also play a role by reporting suspicious activity and take steps to protect their valuables.