SURREY RCMP told The VOICE on Friday that a prolific property crime group, three members of which were arrested recently, are specifically targeting high-end homes where they believe they will find expensive jewellery and large amounts of cash.
Since South Asians are associated with keeping expensive gold jewellery, they are being advised to keep their valuables in safety deposit boxes.
On March 20, information obtained by investigators with the Surrey RCMP’s Property Crime Target Team and the Burnaby RCMP’s Prolific Offender Suppression Team and Strike Force led to the arrest of three suspects following a series of residential break and enters in Surrey. The suspects charged are:
Stanley Calvin Price, 33, of Surrey (four counts of break and enter with intent to commit offence), Wyatt James William, 28, of Kamloops (four counts of break and enter with intent to commit offence), and Glen Allan Nelson, 31, of Surrey (three counts of break and enter with intent to commit offence).
These suspects are believed to be part of a larger group that is responsible for multiple residential break and enters throughout the Metro Vancouver region. Members of this group are usually very selective of the types of homes they target, which usually include high end residences believed to contain expensive jewellery and currency. In addition, the group conducts a number of checks to ensure the homes are unoccupied prior to attempting a break in.
“Our investigators have been very active monitoring individuals believed to be associated with this group and will continue to do so,” said Cpl. Bert Paquet. “Due to the prolific nature of these crimes, however, we are reminding residents to be extra vigilant in securing their homes and properties. This is also the time of year where we usually see a rise in residential thefts as people leave more windows and garage doors are open. As a result we urge residents to review their home safety measures to reduce their chances of becoming a victim.”
Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP’s Property Crime Target Team at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS if they wish to remain anonymous. Thefts under $5,000 can also be reported online through the Surrey RCMP website.
For more information on protecting your property, visit the Protect Yourself section of the Surrey RCMP website or the Playing it Safe in the Summer page on the BC RCMP website.