By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Lock It or Lose It results show ‘continuing disconnect’: RCMP

Aug 10, 2018 | 4:14 PM

Red Deer motorists did just okay during the latest Lock It or Lose It checks conducted by RCMP and Citizens on Patrol.

Inspections were done on parked vehicles at the Collicutt Centre and at Westerner Park recently as part of the ongoing public education campaign.

Volunteers did not try doors or touch vehicles, other than to leave a report card at the vehicle, which flag temptations that may encourage a thief to break into the vehicle or try to steal it.

On July 19, 143 vehicles were checked at Westerner Park and another 63 at the Collicutt.

Of those 206 automobiles, only 90 received a thumbs up. 

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For those keeping score, that’s 44 per cent. 

Specifically, three had visible keys left in the vehicle, 39 left possessions or cash in plain view, 21 left electronics on display, and 46 had a garage door opener visible.

Five drivers left their windows open.

On August 7, 59 vehicles were checked at the Collicutt and only 37 per cent received a passing grade.

“These results show a continuing disconnect – every day we hear loud and clear that citizens are deeply concerned about crime in the community, and yet more than half of the drivers we encounter continue to behave as if it will never happen to them,” says Constable Derek Turner.

“Crime statistics in Red Deer have decreased compared to last year, but this sort of careless behaviour does ensure that crimes of opportunity continue to flourish. RCMP are working hard to reduce crime in Red Deer through increased patrols, special projects like warrant round-ups and drug trafficking sweeps, and our constant focus on putting these repeat offenders before the courts, but the community needs to meet us halfway. Target hardening only takes a few extra seconds.”

The Lock it or Lose it campaign is part of ongoing crime reduction work by Red Deer RCMP and local crime prevention agencies to educate Red Deerians about ways they can avoid being victims of crime. Red Deer RCMP and COP conducted five Lock it or Lose it events in 2017 and four so far in 2018, making educational contact with the drivers of 1,855 vehicles regarding their crime prevention choices.