Three people are in custody and charged with thefts from vehicles and fraudulent use of credit cards.
The suspects charged were among four people who were arrested April 18 after police searched a home in the 2000 block of Bowen Road and found numerous items that were reported stolen from vehicles throughout Nanaimo and Parksville.
Items taken from vehicles included wallets, iPhones and mechanical equipment, personal and commercial cheque books. Six cheques, totalling $5,094.64, were cashed at local banks.
Brandon Cash, 24, Meghan Stewart, 25, and Rachel Gallant, 27, all from Nanaimo, appeared in Nanaimo provincial court April 22 and were remanded in custody until they appear in court April 29 for a bail hearing.
A 38-year-old man was also arrested, but was released from custody on a promise to appear in Nanaimo provincial court in late June.
All four suspects face charges of theft, possession of stolen property and use of forged documents.
“The incidents of wallets being left in vehicles and then stolen seems to be increasing," said Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. "This is a dangerous practice and sets the owner up for financial loss and the possibility of identity theft.”