BONNYVILLE - On Feb. 2, residents of Bonnyville met with members of the RCMP to learn about auto theft prevention. RCMP have also released some local statistics and a list of the vehicles that are most likely to be stolen.
The meeting took place at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre and was hosted by the Bonnyville RCMP and the Alberta RCMP Community Safety and Wellbeing Branch.
At the event, community members were educated about the steps that can be taken to protect their property and reduce vehicle thefts. The meeting was part of an ongoing campaign by the RCMP to raise public awareness about vehicle safety in Alberta. Residents who attended were provided with steering wheel locking devices and RFID blocking pouches to assist in keeping their vehicles safe.
RCMP say motor vehicles theft in Alberta remains a serious issue, with pickup trucks being the most likely vehicles to be stolen across the province.
Staff Sgt. Sarah Parke of the Bonnyville RCMP says that since January 2023, RCMP in the area have dealt with 190 instances of vehicles being stolen and 73 instances of thefts from vehicles.
“We’re hoping that by meeting with the community, talking about what they can do to prevent auto theft, and showing them the resources that are available to them, we can get greatly reduce those numbers.”
The top five vehicles being stolen are:
-
Ford F250 Series (2007)
-
Ford F350 Series (2005)
-
Chevrolet/GMC Silverado/Sierra 2500 Series (2006)
-
Dodge RAM 2500 Series (2001)
-
Chevrolet/GMC Silverado/Sierra 3500 Series (2005)
According to Staff Sgt. Luke Halvorson of the Alberta RCMP Community Safety and Wellbeing Branch, last year, Mounties in Alberta received 8,000 reports of auto theft across the province.
“Many of these thefts could have been prevented by following some simple safety procedures,” Halvorson stated.
Alberta RCMP have offered various tips for ensuring the safety of vehicles and belongings.
These include always keeping vehicle doors locked, especially if the vehicle is running, never leaving keys inside of an unattended vehicle, and using a steering wheel club to deter criminals from attempting to steal vehicles.
The public is also advised to remove all valuables from vehicles, keep garages locked, and consider installing a vehicle tracking system. It also recommended that if an owner cannot park their vehicle in their garage, it should be parked in a well-lit area where it is visible.