Alberta second worst province for auto theft: Alberta Motor Association
Posted Dec 10, 2023 12:44 pm.
Last Updated Dec 10, 2023 12:54 pm.
On this holiday season, Alberta motorists are being warned about a substantial rise in car thefts.
The Alberta Motor Association (AMA) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) say the province has the second-highest rate of auto theft in the country.
“With vehicle theft and theft from vehicles continuing to rise, our message to Albertans is clear: lock your vehicles and hide your valuables,” said Jeff Kasbrick, Vice-President, Advocacy and Operations at AMA, in a news release.
“Even if you’re only gone for a moment, theft is often a crime of opportunity—and thieves will seize that opportunity faster than you may think.”
According to StatsCan, Alberta saw a nearly 20 per cent year-over-year increase in theft from vehicles in 2022, and almost a 17 per cent increase in stolen vehicles.
In addition, there have been roughly 57 vehicles stolen every day, and 95 thefts from vehicles each day in 2022.
Over 20,000 vehicles were stolen in Alberta in 2022, which accounts for 1-5 auto thefts nationally and makes the province second only to Saskatchewan for this crime.
Alberta also accounts for one-fifth of theft from within vehicles in Canada, with more than 34,750 such incidents in 2022—second to Manitoba.
The AMA Lock It or Lose It program reminds drivers to keep their cars locked, to hide their stuff, and to never leave a vehicle running and unattended.
RCMP S Sgt. Luke Halvorson says items with personal information are common targets, so motorists should ensure valuables, including keys, are removed before leaving a vehicle.
He also says to “never leave important documents with personal identifying information in your car.”
“The misuse of this information can leave victims of vehicle theft only more vulnerable and could lead to further crime. Simple crime prevention practices can reduce the risk of theft and save you a lot of time, money, and stress,” Halvorson said.
More information on the program can be found online.
-With files from Jeff Slack
