Thirty-nine auto theft cases were reported in Richmond in May -- double the number reported in April.
This comes among an increase in property crime in the city, according to a Richmond RCMP community safety report to city council.
The number of auto theft cases saw an increase of 86 per cent from last year. However, police have not seen any patterns or trends in these cases.
Reported cases of auto theft in May occurred in city centre, along No. 3 Road, as well as in the Bridgeport area, along Bridgeport Road, according to a Richmond RCMP auto theft map.
Theft from vehicles also saw an increase of 56 per cent compared to April with a total of 98 cases reported in May. Compared to last year, however, the numbers show a 30-per-cent drop.
Meanwhile, 31 cases of commercial break-ins were reported, which is more than double the number compared to April. This is a 63-per-cent increase from last year.
Most commercial break-ins were reported in the city centre and Bridgeport areas.
Residential break-ins for Richmond, however, have seen a 21-per-cent decrease from April and an overall 10-per-cent decrease from last year.
There were 145 reported shoplifting thefts in May, down by 19 per cent from April, but double the incidents from last year. Most stolen items were clothing, accessories, cosmetics and food.
Got an opinion on this story or any others in Richmond? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected]. To stay updated on Richmond news, sign up for our daily headline newsletter.
