RCMP in Slave Lake issue warning about theft of idling vehicles
Slave Lake, Alta. – Slave Lake RCMP are asking motorists to avoid leaving idling vehicles unattended while the keys are inside it. During colder months, it may be tempting to run the vehicle for a period to warm it up, but the presence of the vehicle’s keys makes it an easy target for theft.
“We sometimes believe that criminals don’t keep the same hours, or aren’t up as early as us, and that’s a false sense of security” says Slave Lake RCMP Detachment Commander S/Sgt. Casey Bruyns. “We had two recent files in Slave Lake where vehicles were taken in the early morning hours when a vehicle was started then left unattended with the keys inside, making it an easy target”.
RCMP offer the following tips for keeping your vehicle secured this winter:
- Consider installing a remote starter so your vehicle does not require keys for a warm-up cycle.
- If you have a garage, consider clearing debris from it and using it to park your vehicle.
- Never leave a vehicle unattended with the keys inside, even if the windows are up and the vehicle is locked.
- Remember that it takes a thief only minutes to gain access to a vehicle and drive away, and that time is reduced to seconds if the keys are inside and it is running.
For more information about securing your property, follow the Alberta RCMP on Facebook @RCMPinAlberta and on X @RCMPAlberta.