Calgary police have released the numbers from a campaign aimed at stopping drivers from leaving vehicles unlocked while they warm up on cold winter mornings.
During the week-long Operation Cold Start campaign, patrol officers found 885 unlocked vehicles running with keys inside. In each situation, officers spoke with the drivers to educate them on the risks of leaving unlocked vehicles unattended.
READ MORE: Calgary police launch Operation Cold Start in hopes of preventing vehicle thefts
“During the first three quarters of this year, 4,190 vehicles were stolen in Calgary, which is 47 per cent higher than the five-year average,” the Calgary Police Service warned in a news release.
“Typically, one in four stolen vehicles had their keys left inside of them when they were taken.”
Police say vehicle theft is a crime of opportunity that is often preventable.
“It’s cold. People want to get into a warm vehicle. Unfortunately, it also creates that opportunity for those thieves,” Sgt. Lon Brewster said.
He adds that criminals “like to be warm too”
“Some of the vehicles we checked had kids strapped in their car seats in the back seat while mom or dad went into the store.”
Investigators used the campaign to remind drivers to:
- Never leave running vehicles unattended
- Use a remote starter whenever possible
- Use a second set of keys and lock your vehicle while it’s warming up
- Use a steering wheel lock to deter thieves
- Never leave spare keys or garage door openers in your vehicle
Operation Cold Start ran between 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30 to Wednesday, Dec. 7.