YELLOWKNIFE - Two suspects were arrested on April 16 after a crime spree of thefts from unlocked vehicles.

RCMP Const. Roxanne Dreilich would like to remind people to lock their vehicles, as Yellowknife has been hit with a crime spree of thefts from unlocked vehicles. - Christine Grimard/NNSL photo

A resident of Mandeville Drive was awakened in the early morning by noises outside his home. He looked out to see three people trying to get into his vehicle.

The resident called police, but the suspects fled before they arrived. Police searched the area and found several vehicles that had been entered. None showed signs of forced entry, and appear to have been left unlocked.

RCMP called in its police service dog and tracked down two of the three suspects, one 19-year-old, and a 14-year-old, both male residents of Yellowknife. A third suspect has been identified.

Charges are pending against the adult, while the investigation continues into the involvement of the youths.

Every week, the RCMP receives several reports of items stolen from unlocked vehicles.

"It's a crime of opportunity," said Dreilich. "These people don't want to smash a window, or make noise."

Dreilich said similar thefts happened along School Draw Avenue the previous week. She noted that in many instances, wallets, digital cameras, purses, satellite radio systems and money were left in plain view. In every case, the vehicles were left unlocked.