Highway 3 has much to answer for, when it comes to property crime in Princeton.
Gone are the days when a break-in or theft could be successfully investigated by the village constable rounding up the usual suspects and having a chat with their parents.
Statistical reports released by police do not identify suspects or people charged by their home addresses.
However anyone who reads the newspaper regularly, or even goes on line, will know that frequently those committing offenses here are temporary visitors in our community. It would probably be a stretch to describe them as tourists.
A scan of recent headlines may be considered anecdotal evidence, but it is telling nonetheless.
Related: Keremeos man arrested in connection with Princeton thefts
Two weeks ago the RCMP arrested a man suspected of stealing a truck and fleeing police at high speed. He is from Surrey.
Last month police charged a man in connection with the theft of a house trailer and a truck from two local properties. He is from Keremeos.
In December cops tracked an alleged counterfeiter, wanted for offenses in Princeton, Hope, Merritt and Tulameen, through the bush near Coalmont. That man resides on Vancouver Island. You have to remember the story - it was the one where the RCMP dog involved in the hunt stole a chicken dinner from a camper’s fire pit. (To the original point, that German Shepherd was from PENTICTON.)
Related: Police dog tracks down counterfeit suspect
This is not to suggest that everyone from Princeton lives the life of a saint and that all strangers ought to be mistrusted.
The town has its share of people who do bad things - many of them are monitored continuously under the local detachment’s prolific offender program. That initiative has officers performing check-ups on residents who are living here under court ordered conditions.
Related: Princeton Mounties get their man – eventually
The message is that it has to be more challenging to prevent what can only be described as transient crime.
And there are proactive measures that can be taken to assist law enforcement.
Every business owner should consider investing in security alarms and surveillance cameras. They are relatively inexpensive, can aid police in an investigation, and large stickers on the windows that promote their employment are a deterrent to thieves.
A homeowner concerned about his or her property can also purchase these systems, along with motion lights. And a dog. (But watch those Penticton pooches.)
Be smart. Lock your garage doors. Remove valuable items from your vehicles and make sure those doors are locked too. Look out for your neighbours.
If you see something suspicious - a slow cruising truck at night, someone traipsing through a backyard, or anything that seems “off”- call police.
The protection of our homes and community is everyone’s responsibility.
-The Similkameen Spotlight