Riverview hit by rash of vehicle break-ins

Riverview's Neighbourhood Watch program is making people aware of more vandalism to vehicles.

Last month, there was a rash of thefts from vehicles in the greater Moncton area and Amanda Crandall of Riverview's Neighbourhood Watch says there have been similar incidents in the town in the last few days.

"There's a lot of concerned citizens," she said.

"There's been vehicles vandalized, there's break-ins, people are stealing stuff from their cars.

"They're just concerned that there's that kind of violence that's going on in the neighbourhoods and asking basically what they can do to stop it."

Crandall says forming a chapter of Neighbourhood Watch could help cut down on crime.

"It's getting to know your neighbours and getting to know what goes on in your neighbourhood," she said.

"If you get to know your neighbours and there is something suspicious that's going on at least you're more aware of it and it always keeps you on your toes. You know what to report, when to report it, who to call."

At the end of April, Codiac RCMP reported 29 incidents of thefts from vehicles in the Moncton area, several of them in Riverview. In five of those cases, the vehicle windows were broken.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Eric Larose cautions people to be aware that vehicle break-ins occur and they should take precautions.

"The worst thing is thinking that it's not going to happen to you," he said.

"They're looking everywhere. They're looking at every car when they start an area and the worst thing is if they're successful, they're going to come back."

Larose advises people to never leave money, electronics or anything of value in plain sight in a vehicle and to lock anything of value in the trunk.

Crandall encourages people to report vehicle break-ins to police so the RCMP know where to patrol.