"We believe that by putting criminals and the crimes they commit under the spotlight, we have a better chance of protecting our children, loved ones and ourselves, from the influence of crime"

Auto Saftey

Vehicles are Necessities
Many people consider their car or truck to be their pride and joy - their passion. You can tell by the way they care for their vehicle; the constant cleaning, polishing and maintenance to ensure it is always in immaculate condition.
Others consider the vehicle an essential part of their lifestyle, whether it is for home or for work. The reality is vehicles have become necessities in our daily activities.

Vehicle Thefts are on the Rise!
Vehicle thefts are committed every day at alarming rates across North America. Edmonton has one of the highest rates of vehicle thefts in Canada.
Criminals, whether young offenders or career criminals, steal vehicles for transportation, for commission of other crimes, or for profit motivated reasons. The risk of apprehension is perceived as small, and the punishment and penalties are not effective deterrents.

Criminals are Creative
Criminals are ingenious and creative: they will always discover inventive methods to steal any type of vehicle. Once offenders have discovered methods of stealing a certain type of vehicle, they will perfect the method and pass that information on to anyone who cares to know. These new and improved techniques are even placed on the Internet for everyone to see.
To many criminals, the art of vehicle theft is a game - a game they have become good at.

Easy Targets
As vehicle owners, we have an obligation to ensure necessary precautions are taken to make our vehicles difficult to steal. Don't assume new vehicles are the only targets - older model vehicles are also desirable.
Any vehicle can be stolen if the criminals had their mind set on it. However, the criminal will always go for the easier target. It is estimated nearly 45 per cent of all vehicles were stolen because owners left them unlocked and 24 per cent of those vehicles had the keys left in the ignition. We make it so easy!

Time is a Thief's Enemy
No vehicle or anti-theft device is 100 per cent theft-proof, and discouraging thieves is not an easy task. But we know a thief's greatest enemy is time. The more difficult your vehicle is to steal, the more time it takes to be stolen. The more time a thief has to spend stealing your vehicle, the greater the chance of detection. By making your car a tougher target, the thief will probably move on to a car that is easier to steal.

Simplicity is the Key to Theft Prevention
  • Lock your car and pocket the keys;
  • Never leave your car running unattended - even for a minute;
  • Use a visual deterrent, such as a steering wheel locking device;
  • Park in attended lots;
  • Completely close car windows, including sunroof, when parking;
  • Be careful with your keys and don't hide an extra set in the vehicle;
  • Keep your registration and insurance documents secure;
  • If you have a garage, use it;
  • Park with your wheels turned towards the curb;
  • Back into your driveway if you have rear-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive vehicle;
  • Join the STOP Thief program sponsored by AMA;
  • Engrave expensive accessories - join Operation Identification;
  • Remove portable accessories; and
  • Activate your vehicle's security system.
Reprinted from the brochure "Protecting your Vehicle" with permission from the Edmonton Police Service, Crime Prevention Unit.

© 2013   Created by Rick Newcombe.

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