A day when the high temperature is only forecast to reach around minus 13 degrees seems like a good time for the Alberta RCMP to remind Airdrie motorists about something very important if they want to hold on to their cars and trucks.  

As the temperature goes down, vehicle thefts in the province go up, which is no coincidence according to Constable Chantelle Kelly.  

"It tends to start coming up around this time when weather tends to get a bit colder.  The temperature drops, people are letting their vehicles warm up in their driveway or perhaps they're leaving them running when they go to grab a coffee or pay for gas.  So we do seem to have to remind people a little bit more this time of year."

Kelly says the number of vehicle thefts always rises around this time because of trucks and cars left unattended while they are idling in cold weather.  She calls these types of thefts crimes of opportunity that can always be avoided.

"The Alberta RCMP has estimated that about 33 percent of vehicle thefts occur while it's idling and unoccupied.  It's basically a crime of opportunity and it's preventable.  We want to put some safety tips out there to not leave it running and unoccupied and to keep it locked up so people aren't jumping in and stealing it."

The RCMP have issued the following safety tips to keep your vehicle secure in the winter, as well as in the warmer months:

  • Never leave an idling vehicle unoccupied, even when it is locked.
  • Use a remote starter whenever possible and keep your vehicle locked.
  • Use a steering wheel lock to deter thieves.
  • Never leave spare keys or garage door openers in or around your vehicle.
  • Never leave children or pets in an idling vehicle.
  • Report suspicious activity to police immediately by calling your local police detachment.

Some people believe it's okay to leave your vehicle idling in your driveway or when you run into the store or coffee shop for just a few seconds.  Those people, says Kelly, are misinformed.

"People might think they live on a quiet street or quiet neighbourhood or they're just running in really quickly, maybe they forgot their lunch or left something in their house,  In reality, it only takes seconds for someone to get into that vehicle and drive away.  It happens.  We have statistics that prove it's happening so we need people to just be more cognizant of not doing that."

The RCMP say stolen vehicles pose a significant risk to public safety and they're looking for the community's help to prevent what are easy thefts.