Police see spike in car thefts

OPP News Release

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Leaving vehicles unlocked and vulnerable to theft is providing an easy opportunity that thieves are taking full advantage of. In the month of June, the Ontario Provincial Police – North East Region recorded a spike in auto thefts and thefts of property from vehicles.

Homeowners are often surprised to discover their motor vehicle has been taken from right from their driveway, often because the vehicle has been left unlocked – some because the keys were left in the ignition.

Any vehicle can be stolen, given the opportunity. While the majority of these thefts are classified as ‘joyrides’, many vehicles will become involved in further criminal activity. The joy-ride thefts are the easiest to prevent by simply making it difficult for a person walking by to steal your vehicle - always keep your vehicle locked, or parked in a locked garage.

Theft from vehicles is another reason why a vehicle should always be locked. Opportunistic thieves will rummage through any type of vehicle they find unlocked, seeking valuables or even spare change. Never attract thieves to your vehicle by storing valuables or packages in open sight. Thieves will not hesitate to break into your car if they see something they want like a briefcase, purse, packages, electronics or CDs.

The risk of vehicle theft and the theft of property from vehicles can be dramatically reduced by following these simple measures:

always lock your vehicle and close your windows tightly
never leave an unattended vehicle running never leave your keys in the ignition never place a spare key in the vehicle always store packages and valuables out of sight, preferably in a locked trunk

For more information on crime prevention visit the OPP website http://www.OPP.ca or contact your local OPP detachment at 1-888-31-1122.

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