After seeing an increase in vehicle thefts and thefts from vehicles, RCMP detachments in the Northwest are asking their local communities to keep their vehicle doors locked and valuables removed.
An RCMP advisory state the Onion Lake/Turtleford/Maidstone areas have received reports of at least one vehicle theft per day within the past week and a half – which is significant when it involves several smaller communities. Many complainants let police know their vehicle may have been unlocked at the time or had their keys inside.
“We don’t want anyone to fall victim to a crime of opportunity. This is a reminder to remove keys and valuables from your vehicles,” shares S/Sgt. Ken Burnouf. “It’s not enough to put your vehicle keys, or anything valuable, in a cup holder or behind a visor, you must remove them from your vehicle and lock the doors. We must all work together to mitigate crime in our communities. We need the public to take that extra step to help keep their vehicles safe by securing them appropriately.”
Even having spare change kept in your vehicle can make it a possible target. Always remember to remove your garage door opener from your vehicle – if it is stolen, it can mean someone has access to everything inside your garage and even your home if it’s connected to your garage. S/Sgt. Burnouf also notes that stolen vehicles may be connected to other criminal activity, and it’s important to ensure you make a report to police if your vehicle is stolen.
If you need to report something missing, or if you see any suspicious activity, report it to Turtleford RCMP at 306-845-4520, call 911 in an emergency, or call 310-RCMP in non-emergencies.
A reminder that some complaints such as damage/mischief to property under $5,000, theft of bicycle under $5,000, theft under $5,000, theft from vehicle under $5,000, lost or found property and damage/mischief to vehicle under $5000 can be reported online to the RCMP here:
