Lock it and pocket the key

Car theft is on the rise in Prince Rupert, a surprising thing considering our location and relative isolation. One wonders where exactly a car thief might be going with a car boosted in the city, you can’t exactly hit the highway and get lost in the traffic and there's not exactly a growth industry in chop shops in the area.

And while it’s not quite time for a bait car program for the city, it may be time for locals to take more of an interest in the security of their vehicles and of any suspicious behavior in their neighborhoods.

ICBC statistics show that while not an epidemic, the number of vehicles being stolen from local driveways is on the rise. Car theft has increased 67 per cent between the years 2004 and 2006, which will no doubt give Rupertites cause to make sure that the car is locked in the driveway before they call it a night.

It seems that locals are leaving town to learn the trade so to speak, returning to town to show off their new talents, kind of a work placement program we guess after graduation.

Thursday’s Daily news had details on the spike in crime when it comes to motor vehicles.

CAR THEFT ON THE RISE IN CITY, WARN POLICE
By James Vassallo
The Daily News
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Pages one and three

There was a time when car theft was just about unheard of in Prince Rupert. However, recently released ICBC statistics show the problem has indeed reached the farthest shores of the North Coast.

“If (a car) was stolen, generally it was like a kid taking their parents’ car without permission, the parent didn’t know and reported it stolen,” said Const. Steve Richards, RCMP media liaison and community policing officer. “(A few years ago) I don’t remember hearing of one that was an honest stolen vehicle, but since then I’ve heard of a few. Someone is at work and the car is parked and it’s gone, or it’s parked overnight and they get up and it’s gone.”

Although the problem is far from an epidemic, the city now leads the Northwest in car theft growth with a 67 percent increase between 2004 and 2006.

The province, down 24 per cent and Terrace down 56 per cent, have all seen significant drops in the problem.

In real numbers, it amounts to six cars stolen in 2004, 13 in 2005 and 10 in 2006. Terrace still tops the region in actual numbers, with 15 cars stolen in 2006.

“In the Lower Mainland, you hear all sorts of reports about stolen vehicles, but it’s basically the same people doing them – career car thieves, “he said. “Up here, in the past we didn’t have a lot of people with those skills, there was basically no one up here teaching people to steal cars, but they are learning while they’re in corrections or visiting people down south – there’s definitely people picking up the knowledge.

“I know of one individual who has come back to town with some newly acquired skills and stolen a vehicle.”

In Prince Rupert, having your vehicle stolen is not as big a concern as in most parts of the province, and the primary concern remains thefts from vehicles, however when it happens, the result can be both emotionally and financially difficult.

“Having your vehicle stolen, and I can speak from experience because I had my truck stolen while I was in the Lower Mainland, it’s as bad as having somebody break into your house,” said Richards. “You feel totally violated, it’s not something I would wand anyone to experience.

”In addition to the deductible, it generally costs you a whole lot more, stuff that your insurance isn’t going to cover, if you have contents in your vehicle, you’ve got your house insurance deductible, and, as I found out, there’s quite often damage that isn’t covered at all.”

According to ICBC the best way to protect a vehicle from being stolen is to install a passive immobilizer, which also allows you to apply for reduced car insurance. Other security measures include using a steering wheel lock; keeping windows and doors closed and locked; keeping spare keys in a wallet rather than inside the car; avoid parking behind fences or hedges and electing to park in a well lit area.

While people often don’t think there’s anything worth stealing in their vehicles, police also warn that just about anything may be targeted by a thief. The most common items stolen include stereo equipment, CD’s, laptop computer, loose change, registration papers, garage door openers, cell phones, portable DVD and MP3 players, work tools, tires and even air bags. As if being robbed isn’t bad enough, thieves often leave unpleasant things behind from old cigarettes to drug paraphernalia, used condoms and even bodily fluids.

February is Auto Crime Enforcement Month in British Columbia.