The Altona Police Service is urging residents in both the town of Altona and LUD of Plum Coulee to take extra precautions following an increase in reported thefts.

"It goes in cycles," explained Police Chief Dan Defer. "Every once in a while, we start seeing an increase in parked vehicles being entered in the middle of the night, rummaged through and some property stolen (like) change left inside of vehicles."

While these incidents tend to go in cycles and be sporadic, Defer noted, when someone decides to do this, they hit multiple vehicles in a night.

Crime of opportunity

Vehicles parked on the street, in particular, tend be an easy target for culprits. 

"Someone walking down the street, they pull on the door handle and if the door opens, in they go and they're gone in thirty seconds," said Defer. 

"So, don't leave valuable in your vehicles at night. Don't leave your vehicles unlocked during the night."

The same goes for outbuildings like sheds and garages.

Who is behind the break-ins?

Defer confirms some of these recent petty thefts are connected to the drug-sub culture - people looking for loose change or items they can sell in order to pay for their next fix.

"One particular occurrence we had recently, that's exactly what it is," he said. "We have suspects in that one and that investigation is continuing and we do expect to make an arrest."