RCMP and the Town of Irricana are working together to build an awareness campaign concerning the issue of vehicles left unlocked in the community.
Beiseker RCMP Sergeant Glenn Demmon informed Town council during its Oct. 3 meeting that a rash of seven vehicle break-ins along 6th Street in mid-September were the result of each being left unlocked.
“If (criminals) find one unlocked, they’re going to check for a whole bunch more,” Demmon said. “If they check three or four and they’re all locked, they’re going to move on somewhere else.
“It’s just the nature of that type of crime.”
The irony with car break-ins, Demmon said, is that often the victim is sure the vehicle was locked.
Unless there is damage to the vehicle, however, he said it is almost certain it wasn’t locked.
“(Criminals) don’t waste the time damaging the vehicle because there are several (others) that are unlocked,” Demmon said.
According to Demmon, of the seven vehicles broken into, only three had items stolen. Demmon said that is a good sign residents are at least not leaving valuable items in the vehicle.
“People are getting better, but (leaving the door unlocked) is still making it easier for the thieves,” he said.
During the month of October, he proposed RCMP run patrols where officers check doors of parked vehicles.
Counting one day, Demmon said the RCMP found there were 113 vehicles parked on the street in Irricana, with most situated on 6th Street.
If a vehicle is found unlocked during patrol, Demmon said RCMP would place a note on the windshield informing the owner.
“If they’re parked on the street, we have to make them aware that if we can check it, somebody else can, too,” he said.
“Better that than coming out and finding the items missing from your vehicle.”
Demmon stressed RCMP would not enter the vehicles they checked and would only be checking vehicles parked on the street.
The RCMP will bring information regarding the campaign and patrol to the 2016 IdeaFest Oct. 20 and 22.
