You Won’t Hear a Thief Say:

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You Won’t Hear a Thief say:

• “The owner likely wants to keep all this stuff they left in the car so I’d better leave it be.”
• “There are valuables here; I’d better move on to an empty car.”
• “Too bad this window is glass, there’s just no way to get to this stuff.”
• “Sure, I can have all this stuff for free, but what about the trouble for the owner?”
• “They don’t expect anybody to break in to their car so I won’t break in; I only target victims that expect it.”

The Regina Police Service is reminding Regina vehicle owners to practice good crime prevention strategies to prevent theft from auto. The two key crime prevention strategies prevent the majority of thefts from autos:

1. Remove all valuables from your vehicle.
2. Lock your vehicle.

Over the weekend (March 29^th-30^th, 2014) there were thirteen reported cases of theft from an automobile and five cases of theft of an automobile.

Too often, people assume that a) no one would steal from their vehicle or b) there is nothing worth taking.  In police interviews of suspects who are subsequently charged with theft from auto, the culprits often state that they simply try the doors of vehicles parked on the street and if a door is left unlocked they steal whatever is left inside, even if it is a CD or a handful of change.  In other cases, even if the vehicle is locked but something of value is left in plain view, the suspects will smash a window to commit the theft.

In many cases, theft from auto is easily preventable.  Always take your valuables from the vehicle; lock the doors and report any suspicious activity to police.  If you see a crime in progress call 9-1-1; keep yourself safe, but try to get a description of suspects or suspect vehicles.