More Shoppers Means More Thieves

by Lindsay Harvey

Christmas is upon us once again which means there’s lots of shopping being done. This season more valuables are being left in vehicles, making them more readily available to thieves. The Edmonton Police Service officers are reminding shoppers to remove all valuables from their vehicles this holiday season, before the thieves do it for them.

Kurt Rackel, a local resident has been a three-time victim of car break and entering in our city.

Rackel said, “ The first time was on Whyte Ave. It was a soft top Tracker. They just ripped the top right off and got in there.”

This type of incident is occurring in our city at a disturbing rate during this time of the year. The EPS at the Summerlea Station in West Edmonton Mall are trying to curb this growing problem.

Supt. Joe Marshall said, ”If you leave items in your vehicle in plain view, there is enough people around this town that somebody is going to steal it.”

Nearly 9000 vehicles have been broken into so far this year in Edmonton, and just over 4600 have been stolen. These numbers are expected to increase during the month of December, and EPS are hoping that drivers are remembering the few simple steps to try and avoid car thefts.

*Drivers are reminded to make sure they lock their doors at all times

* Keep all valuables out of plain view

*Take spare sets of keys out of your vehicle

*Put up the All Valuables Removed sign

Supt. Joe Marshall said, “I’m telling people to put it out of sight, put up these signs if you can, they’re readily available. But don’t be a victim, be responsible for your car and be responsible for the things in your car.”

The EPS project is hoping to make a difference so that others don’t have to deal with break and enters like Kurt did.

Kurt said, “You honestly feel really violated because you don’t know who’s been in there or what they’ve been doing. It honestly didn’t even feel like my car anymore. It felt like somebody else’s car.”

For more information on EPS’S new project visit:

http://www.edmontonpolice.ca/