RCMP are reminding residents to remove valuables from unattended vehicles and lock them up.

They say preventing this type of theft is quite simple – lock your vehicle and take your valuables inside.

Police say these common-sense steps can be the difference between keeping your belongings safe and handing them over to opportunistic thieves.

Items stolen in September include a paddle board, backpack, passports, sleeping bag, battery booster, a saw, laptop computer, credit cards, debit cards, SIN cards, school books, power pack, driver’s licence, a rifle, fishing gear, binoculars, and sunglasses.

Finally, an entire vehicle was stolen after the spare set of keys was left inside the unlocked car.

Comox Valley RCMP have increased patrols in the areas with the most thefts, but they can still happen anywhere, and thieves often switch up their locations.

Lock your doors, remove your valuables, and call police to report any and all suspicious activity.