By James Dunn

easy pickings for thieves

Lock up your idling vehicles or risk losing them: RCMP

Feb 13, 2020 | 12:22 PM

Temperatures are dropping, and City Mounties are making their routine reminders of just how easy it is for thieves to make off with a vehicle that’s been left idling, unlocked and unattended.

Supt. Gerald Grobmeier, Officer In Charge for Red Deer RCMP, says this year has been no different compared to past years when it comes to vehicle thefts in cold weather.

“Cars running with keys left are a significant problem in Red Deer, I understand people want to warm up their cars when it’s minus 40, I do it as well,” he notes.

Grobmeier says about half of all vehicles stolen in Red Deer during winter are left running with keys inside.

Mounties also recommend products that can help prevent idling vehicles from being stolen.

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“There are some low-tech solutions, beyond investing $500-600 on a command start,” notes Grobmeier. “Even a simple solution like The Club, it’s $40-50, but sticking that in with your car running makes it that much more difficult for someone to steal your vehicle.

“Most of these criminals are looking for something easy, and they don’t want to go through the effort of trying to defeat a club. They don’t have the time so they’ll move on to something else.”

Inspector Holly Glassford says a small effort can prevent a major crime.

“The stolen vehicles in our community pose a significant risk to public safety in a variety of ways. Our goal is not to shame anyone, rather to just ask everyone to be smart, and do their part.”

Police say there are three keys for a crime to occur: someone with the desire and ability to commit one, a person or property that is the target, and the opportunity to commit a crime.

Red Deer RCMP and Citizens on Patrol continue to promote the Lock it or Lose it campaign.