Prince George RCMP have seen a sudden rise in the number of vehicle thefts being reported in the city.
In the first two weeks of May, the RCMP have seen a more than 100 per cent increase in the number of vehicle thefts, Prince George RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jennifer Cooper said in a statement released on Friday.
“We have discussed this throughout our detachment and will be increasing enforcement efforts in the areas where we are seeing the most incidents of vehicle theft, with the goal of catching those committing these crimes,” Cooper said. “Investigators have noted that the most common element between the thefts was the age of the vehicles involved, with many of them being early 2000 model vehicles. Another commonality was drivers leaving their keys inside the vehicle.”
The RCMP are offering the following tips to motorists to reduce their chances of being a target of vehicle theft:
- Don’t leave your vehicle running with the keys inside. If you want to cool your vehicle, and can’t do it remotely, stay inside the vehicle. Crimes of opportunity can happen in any neighbourhood at any time of day or night.
- Keep track of your keys. Don’t leave vehicle keys unattended in a purse, jacket or backpack, even at work.
- Always lock your vehicle when you leave it, and leave windows up. It only takes a thief a few minutes to start a vehicle, even without the keys. Double-check your vehicle is locked every night before bed.
- Use an anti-theft device. If you have a vehicle alarm, make sure it is on when you leave the vehicle. If you do not have a vehicle alarm, purchase an after-market anti-theft device like a steering wheel lock or immobilizer.
“An unsecured vehicle is an easy target for auto thieves,” said Tracey Hoffman, local ICBC Road Safety Coordinator. “Always lock your doors and use an immobilizer or steering wheel lock to reduce your risk. Don’t forget to remove any valuables including smartphones, laptops, backpacks and packages when parking your vehicle.”
