Sarnia Police Services is reminding residents to lock valuables out of sight during the warmer weather. Police Chief Phil Nelson says most thefts are tied to the drug trade.
He says fentanyl sells for up to $400 on the street and those with addictions resort to breaking into stores, homes and cars to get the cash they need.
City police are working to enforce a fentanyl Patch 4 Patch program in August to try to address the problem. The intent is to stop the popular synthetic opiod from reaching Lambton County streets. There have been 430 thefts so far this year, compared to 294 in all of 2014.