The OPP is once again pleading with vehicle owners to take some personal action to help curb the number of vehicle thefts across the province. It doesn’t cost you anything and it only takes a second of your time to lock your vehicle and remove the keys, yet the numbers don’t lie, too many people aren’t doing it.
A year-to-date look at the stolen vehicle statistics for Huron County OPP reveals 50 vehicles have been stolen in 2022. This number is up from 41 during the same time last year, a 22% increase. This issue isn’t unique to just Huron County. Perth, South Bruce, Grey-Bruce and Wellington Counties have all seen increases in vehicle thefts compared to this time last year.
Collectively, the five detachments of Huron, Perth, South Bruce, Grey-Bruce and Wellington have investigated a total of 207 stolen vehicles this year versus 147 during the same period last year.
The overwhelming majority of these vehicle thefts have been crimes of opportunity. Vehicles are being left unlocked and the ignition key readily accessible often in the vehicle. This makes things rather easy for a thief looking to steal a vehicle. One second your vehicle is in your driveway the next a criminal is using it to commit other crimes.
Routinely these thieves will use the stolen vehicle to commit further criminal offences such as break and enters and thefts. Additionally, the drivers will engage in dangerous driving acts on the roadway and will also fail to stop for police if attempts are made to stop them.
“Please help us combat vehicle theft by doing two simple things. #1 – Lock your vehicle! #2- Pocket your Keys! Crime prevention is everyone’s business, and we need you to do your part. Vehicle theft is largely a crime of opportunity, please do your part to take this opportunity away.”
– OPP Acting Detective Staff Sergeant Tyler STEWART
What can be done about this? Quite simply it comes down to vehicle owners taking some basic steps to secure their vehicle and to always remove the ignition key from their vehicle. In addition, don’t leave valuables in your vehicle or personal documents such as vehicle ownership, liability pink slips, credit card invoices or other documents containing personal information in their vehicles. Identity thieves are looking for such documents so they can assume identities, secure credit card accounts, lease vehicles for export, and even take out a mortgage against victims’ properties without their knowledge.
