Winter is here with a vengeance, so are the car thieves. ‘Tis the season to warm up your cars before driving away, but please don’t leave them unattended and unlocked while warming up, or with your keys in the ignition. A warm car is a nice sight in the morning; an empty space, where your car used to be, is not.
Every year we see many vehicles stolen with while the vehicle was warming, some with keys inside and while the vehicle was unlocked and unattended. During the week of November 29, 2016 – December 6, 2016, there were 30 completed theft-of-auto occurrences reported to police. Eight of the thirty stolen were running with the keys inside the vehicles.
The Regina Police Service is encouraging citizens to lock their vehicles when not in use. Don’t leave vehicles unlocked or with keys left in them. Take your garage door openers into the house with you; don’t leave them in your vehicle, especially if it’s left unlocked. Keep all valuables and spare change out of sight, so as not to encourage possible thefts. Lock your garage door when you are not at home and at night.
We encourage everyone to lock their vehicles and take all valuables into the home, to discourage this kind of behaviour. The Holiday Season is a time for giving but don’t GIVE your car away; TAKE your keys. As always, please report suspicious activity to police by calling 306-777-6500. If you see a crime in progress, call 9-1-1.