By Corey Fischer

Holiday Shoppers Urged To Secure Vehicles, Valuables

Dec 13, 2017 | 11:00 AM

RCMP are reminding the public to take precautions to prevent becoming a victim of a holiday shopping theft.

People are encouraged to minimize the risk of someone breaking into your vehicle if they see shopping bags or other valuable items on display.

Crime Prevention coordinator Regan Borisenko says the advice is to make sure your vehicle is securely locked and to not leave any valuables in plain view.

Any packages should be put in the trunk or a non-visible location.

RCMP volunteers have been walking through parking lots in the city checking to make sure vehicles are secure and not a theft magnet.

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Crime Prevention Notices are being issued to vehicles that are seen to be insecure or with visible items in them.

“There is nothing punitive about the notices, it is simply to promote the prevention and raise awareness of thefts from vehicles,” says Borisenko.

Borisenko says theft from auto is a crime of opportunity, and is preventable.

“Something as insignificant as small change may lure a thief and the damages caused to the vehicle can outweigh the value of what was actually taken.”

RCMP say the majority of the reports of thefts from auto were to vehicles with un-locked doors, often with valuables left in plain sight.

“In the event of a theft from auto where valuables, personal identification or credit cards have been stolen, please contact your local RCMP detachment and notify your financial institutions,” says Cst. Kelly Brett.

If you see any suspicious persons or activities near a vehicle, call the police immediately.

“Let the police determine if it’s a crime in progress,” says Brett.

by Corey Fischer