Vehicle with driver's side window smashed out by thief/via Smiley's Glass
As spring sunshine draws more people outdoors in Kamloops, police are warning that the seasonal shift often brings a rise in vehicle break-ins — calling on vehicle owners to take some simple steps to protect their property.
Kamloops RCMP note trailheads, parks and other outdoor recreation areas tend to become common targets for opportunistic thieves, some of whom can be inside your vehicle within seconds of descending on it.
“People often leave items like purses, wallets, and cell phones in their vehicles while they go for a walk or hike,” said Sandro Piroddi, Crime Prevention Coordinator with the Kamloops RCMP detachment. “Unfortunately, that creates an easy opportunity for thieves.”
The Mounties also caution that theft from a vehicle can sometimes be the start of a string of crimes related to the same victim, as thieves will often make quick use of a credit or debit card, and have been known to go further into full-blown identity theft.
RCMP say one of the best ways to ensure you don’t become a victim of a secondary crime is to try to put your own privacy top-of-mind when securing your vehicle.
Loose change, as well as a set of keys and a paring knife stuck into an apple in the console of a vehicle. Viewed in plain sight by a thief, RCMP say an image like this could incentivize a thief to target your vehicle/via Facebook
Would-be thieves don’t need to know that you like to have a handful of change at the ready should you suddenly get a craving for the drive-thru while running some errands.
As such, don’t leave any valuables — even loose change or a cigarette lighter — out in the open, as that’s all the catalyst a thief may need to target your vehicle.
RCMP say if you do need to leave valuable materials such as your wallet, cash or clothes inside your vehicle, try to store them in the trunk if possible.
If a secure trunk isn’t an option, try to avoid leaving your valuables in a place where thieves are most likely to look — namely the glove compartment, the middle arm rest and underneath the seats.
Leaving personal identification in a vehicle unattended is also very-much frowned upon by those who deal in crime-reduction techniques.
They note that more focused thieves — those looking beyond a simple crime of opportunity — have been known to break into a vehicle and specifically walk away with just bank or credit cards, as well as other identifiable information, while leaving everything else of value behind.
This can lull a victim into a false sense of security, giving that thief time to do some serious economic and personal damage to you before you might even realize what’s happened.
RCMP do say one of the other main things to keep front-and-center in your vehicle security protocols is to not make it easy for thieves to take the next step — theft FROM to theft OF a vehicle.
This includes never leaving your vehicle running while you’re off doing something else.
Spare keys should also never be left inside the vehicle they command, as well as any garage openers or other materials which can identify where you live.
Internal vehicle navigation system. RCMP recommend users of such devices not program your exact address as ‘home’ in these tools, as thieves who steal a vehicle with this information could use it to target the victim’s other property/via makeuseof.com
Similarly, if you have a GPS system installed, make sure “home” is never clearly identified by address — instead choose a nearby intersection or a public marker as “home” to avoid putting your other property at risk.
A solid deterrent for most thieves is an obvious anti-theft device such as a a steering wheel lock or an immobilizer.
Setting your car alarm each time you walk away from the vehicle, while also securing your license plates, is also recommended, as stolen plates are sometimes used in more serious crimes.
Crime prevention experts also say that your parking habits can also make a difference.
Mounties say your best weapon when you leave your vehicle alone is common sense.
Choose to park in an open, well-lit area which has high visibility and pedestrian traffic, while also making use of garages whenever possible at home.
RCMP say the simplest things — like ensuring all your doors and windows are locked every time you leave your vehicle is one of the easiest and most effective criminal deterrents.
Beyond the vehicle itself, you’re also being reminded to keep close track of your keys, avoid leaving any of your personal belongings unattended when outside your vehicle and — when possible — make a record of the serial numbers of your personal and valuable items to help with recovery in the event they are stolen.
Finally, RCMP stress the importance of reporting suspicious activity immediately.
Witnesses are encouraged to provide descriptions of individuals and vehicles they feel could be involved in criminal activity when possible.
But if you are witness to a crime, the Mounties recommend that you not intervene and instead leave that portion of crime prevention to the professionals, noting that property and money should always be secondary to your personal safety.
Kamloops RCMP’s Sandro Piroddi placing anti-theft tips under a vehicle’s windshield wiper/via Kamloops RCMP
