Whistler fell victim to a string of break-ins and thefts over the holidays, with a total of seven incidents confirmed by police on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
At approximately 8 a.m. on Dec. 25, police received a report of a stolen vehicle from the 1300 block of Cloudburst Drive in Cheakamus Crossing. Fortunately, the grey Toyota Prius was later recovered in the area of Callaghan Valley Road with the keys still in the vehicle.
A forensic examination turned up no further evidence and a review of CCTV footage was unsuccessful in identifying a suspect, police said in a release.
About a half hour later, officers were called to a reported break-in to a business located 19 kilometres south of Whistler. Police said a suspect wearing a mask and hood pried open a door with a crowbar before stealing a safe containing $8,000.
Then, just before 9 a.m., police responded to a break-and-enter to a garage in the 1500 block of Tynebridge Lane in Spring Creek. Investigators said the suspect had rummaged through two unlocked vehicles before finding a garage door opener that they used to access the garage.
Approximately $700 worth of ski gear was stolen.
A forensic investigation didn’t help in identifying a suspect, police said.
Another theft was reported at 11:20 a.m. Christmas Day, this time from a vehicle in the 1200 block of Alta Lake Road. The release said the driver-side window was smashed and an iPhone was stolen from the vehicle.
Then, at about 3 p.m., police responded to another theft from a vehicle that, with no sign of forced entry, was believed to be left unlocked at the time. Keys and a parking pass were stolen, police said.
New Year’s Eve was another busy day for Whistler RCMP. At approximately 11:40 a.m., Mounties were tipped off to a break-and-enter to a home in Nordic. Investigators said the suspect entered the residence sometime between 9 and 11:30 a.m. through a front door that was left unlocked.
Two laptops, two iPads and a speaker system were reported stolen.
Resident Trish Sloan called the theft “brazen,” considering the visibility of their home and the fact their dog was in the house at the time.
“We’re in good view of things and people walk past all the time,” said Sloan, who commended the work of police so far. “Someone just really took a chance and was successful.”
Investigators have reviewed CCTV footage, spoken with neighbours and currently await the results of a forensic examination.
Later that day, at about 5:45 p.m., another home was hit, this time in Alpine and belonging to U.S. Olympic snowboarder Jamie Anderson, who posted to social media after the theft saying that cash and jewelry, including two Olympic rings, were stolen. Police said roughly $20,000 worth of jewelry was taken.
It is believed the suspect entered through an unlocked front door sometime between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
In the release, Cpl. Nate Miller said he would “like to warn the public about leaving their vehicles and residences unlocked. Leaving your vehicle and residence unlocked provides an opportunity for someone to commit crime. Please be sure to lock your vehicle and remove your personal belongings.”
He also urged the public not to leave garage door openers in vehicles.
The Whistler RCMP is asking anyone with information about these incidents or who observes suspicious behaviour to call the detachment’s non-emergency line at 604-932-3044, or Sea to Sky Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.
