The Regina Police Service (RPS) is urging residents to be more aware and take proactive measures after 85 vehicles were stolen from July 1 to July 17.
Of those vehicles, 23 were Honda and Acura models. According to data analyzed over a three year period, these models between the years of 1990 and 2005 are consistently within the top five stolen vehicles in the city.
“That’s due to a technique known to auto thieves where the keys are altered,” Regina Police Service media development officer, Les Parker said. “With that problem here we have higher numbers in those car models.”
Police are telling residents to remember to lock their doors, remove valuables and not leave the keys inside while the vehicle is running.
Even though a steering-wheel immobilization device can help deter thieves, police add, most car thefts are crimes of opportunity.
“If people see it and it just happens to be where the opportunity is and where the person looking for the opportunity is- when those two things meet you have auto theft,” Parker said.
According to SGI, across the province, auto theft claims have jumped by 46 per cent over the past five years. Last year alone saw 2,824 claims at a cost of $24.6 million dollars.
“Overall in the province, trucks are the most stolen vehicle type and we have heard from police often thieves will steal a truck and use it to commit another crime,” SGI spokesperson, Kelley Brinkworth said.
While most of the stolen vehicles are eventually recovered, by the time it ends up at the salvage yard, police say it’s usually a total loss.
Anyone who sees suspicious activity around vehicles is asked to call either the Regina Police Service at 306-777-6500 or 911 if you witness a crime in progress.
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