steal vehicles for the purpose of using
them for all kinds of different crimes,”
says Staff Sergeant Jodi Gach of Calgary
Police Service’s Investigative Operations
Section. Among those crimes: robberies,
break-and-enters, drug trafficking and
sometimes just joyriding.
Auto theft therefore becomes a threat
to public safety. “When someone steals
a car, quite often they have a complete
disregard for the rules of the road,” Gach
says. “They might run red lights, drive
at life-threatening speeds and, in some
instances, they’re under the influence
of drugs or alcohol.”
Having your car stolen is not only
a major inconvenience for you, it also
puts others at risk on the road: inno-
cent drivers and pedestrians may get
hit; public and private property could
be damaged. And as insurance claims
related to these crimes increase, so too
will premiums for all drivers.
auto iq
Lock it or Lose it
Why vehicle-related crimes occur, and what
you can do to prevent them
BY CRAIG MOY
23,000 vehicles
were stolen in Alberta. That’s 63 cars,
trucks and SUVs taken every day. Police
across the province have also reported
a surge in vehicle-related break-ins.
The good news is that these are often
crimes of opportunity, which means
they’re preventable. Earlier this year,
AMA launched the Lock It or Lose It
campaign, advising Albertans to lock
their vehicle doors and hide their stuff.
“The rate of vehicle theft in Alberta is
staggering,” says Jeff Kasbrick, AMA’s
vice-president of government and
stakeholder relations. “But there’s a
lot we can do to prevent it.”
LAst YeAR, MORe thAn
What You
can Do
learn more
about securing
your vehicle:
ama.ab.ca/
lockit
A recent AMA survey revealed that
10 percent of members have left their
vehicles unlocked and 11 percent have
left them running while unattended.
One-third have left valuables visible in
their cars. “Unlocked doors and keys in
the ignition are open invitations to steal
your vehicle,” Kasbrick says. “Lock It
or Lose It is a reminder to take simple
steps to curb vehicle theft and take away
the welcome mat for thieves.”
theft to commit further crimes
Far too often, auto theft is committed by
people who want to undertake further
crimes. “It’s very common for people to
Lock it or Lose it key to security
always lock your
doors, and never
leave your vehicle
running unattended. Be careful about
where you keep
your keys or fob.
unsecure d gym
lockers, for example,
are prime theft
targets.
Break-ins for identity theft
Criminals also target cars for the
purpose of committing identity theft.
They break in—or open an unlocked
door—to take the purse left on the pas-
senger seat, or registration documents
from the glovebox. Calgary police see
multiple daily vehicle break-ins in
which identity documents or bank and
credit cards are explicitly targeted.
“It’s still quite common for people
to carry things like birth certificates or
social insurance cards along with their
banking cards,” says Staff Sergeant Cory
Dayley of Calgary Police Service’s
Cyber/Forensics Unit. “Combined with
insurance or registration papers from
the vehicle, it can help a criminal to put
together a package that supports a false
identity.” The thief could then redirect
your mail and open up a bank account
or secure loans in your name.
nothing
to see here
stopping power
Park in well-lit areas.
When at home, if
you park in a garage,
keep it locked.
store valuables
out of sight. don’t
leave important
documents in the
glovebox.
practice deterrence
install an alarm if
your vehicle doesn’t
have one, or consider
using a steering-
wheel club.
AMA InsIder
Fall 2018
25