Stolen vehicles were recovered and thousands of Surrey drivers received timely reminders to lock up their valuables season during the first three weeks of a seasonal auto crime prevention campaign.
From Nov. 2 to 28, volunteers from the Surrey RCMP and the Surrey Crime Prevention Society were out in force auditing vehicles and leaving reminders to drivers about leaving items in view in their vehicles.
They audited more than 7,000 vehicles across the city, delivered more than 3,000 reminders to drivers and distributed steering wheel locks to those driving older vehicles that are often targeted for theft.
The volunteers also scanned more than 5,000 vehicles using a stolen vehicle recovery smart phone app, resulting in the recovery of nine stolen vehicles.
The Protect It. Lock It. Keep It campaign aims to make people more conscious about securing their vehicles to keep their possessions safe.
And it’s not yet over; throughout the holiday season, Surrey RCMP officers will be checking on areas with high concentrations of vehicles, including shopping malls and park and rides to ensure public safety – and to monitor prolific auto crime offenders.
Surrey RCMP and Surrey Crime Prevention Society volunteers will also continue to conduct parking lot audits and run ICBC’s Lock Out Auto Crime Program at various locations throughout the city.
Here are a few steps drivers can take to protect their vehicles and belongings:
• Use an anti-theft device
• Park in well-let areas or near pedestrian traffic
• Remove possessions from your vehicle, including shopping bags, change, electronics, briefcases etc.
• Remove spare keys
• Keep your garage door opener hidden or take it with you
• Never leave your car unattended while it warms up
The most commonly-stolen items from cars are smartphones, personal electronics such as laptops, tablets, iPods and GPS, work tools, credit cards and ID, and stereo equipment.
For more information, visit the Surrey RCMP’s website at Surrey.rcmp-grc.gc.ca or the City of Surrey’s website at Surrey.ca.