Police are reminding Sea to Sky hikers and campers to avoid leaving valuables in the car following a string of reported break-ins at popular trailheads.
Pemberton RCMP received five reports of thefts from vehicles parked at Joffre Lakes Provincial Park over the Canada Day long weekend, confirmed Staff Sgt. Sascha Banks in an email.
From July 1 to 4, several groups described returning to their vehicles to find windows broken and items missing. Among the stolen possessions are wallets, hiking gear and a paddleboard, Banks noted. Most vehicles targeted were parked in the trailhead lot overnight.
The local RCMP detachment notified BC Parks about the incidents and said its officers intend to increase patrols in the area, located about 30 kilometres northeast of Pemberton.
Additionally, "Pemberton RCMP recommend taking all items of value out of their vehicles to ensure they are not targets of thieves in the area," Banks added.
The Joffre Lakes thefts come following a series of similar incidents in the Rubble Creek area that were reported to Squamish RCMP the weekend prior.
In a release, police said they were informed of "multiple" vehicles that had been broken into and damaged on Saturday night, June 25 while parked near the trailhead used to access Garibaldi Provincial Park.
"Vehicles had doors pried open, ignitions damaged, multiple broken windows, and seat upholstery damaged. Multiple passports were stolen as well as backpacks with camping gear, sunglasses, keys, clothing, insurance cards, air pods, and shoes," Cpl. Ashley MacKay explained in the release.
Squamish RCMP asks anyone with any information regarding the Rubble Creek break-ins to contact police at 604-892-6100, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
