The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is launching a new campaign today to alert residents that the community they live or work in, is a Hot Spot for theft from and theft of vehicles.

“These two crimes continue to be on the rise year after year and we need all communities to be more vigilant about protecting and securing their vehicles,” says Sgt. Smith of West Division Crime Management Team. “Dealing with the aftermath of having your car broken into or stolen, is much worse than making the extra effort to protect your property.”

Nine neighbourhoods in Edmonton will notice large signs by roadways, alerting them that their neighbourhood is a Hot Spot. The campaign focuses on one community in each of the six EPS Divisions.

“These communities historically have had the most theft-from and theft-of vehicles when we analyzed the data from the last five years,” says Sgt. Smith.

The EPS compared statistics from Jan. 1, 2019 to Nov. 30, 2019, which correlated with the statistics over the last five years. The Hot Spot communities include:

There have been some occurrences of thefts involving vehicles with a smart key that have been left running, unattended and with key removed. Owners of these vehicles may be unaware that the vehicle may not lock due to a safety override feature in some manufacturers and assume incorrectly that the vehicle will not be able to be driven away.

“It appears that storage of these fobs within vehicles is often an issue. It is very easy to try the vehicle ignition button to see if the vehicle responds, even if no key is visible, in hopes that the vehicle will engage due to a hidden fob,” says Sgt. Smith.

There are many thefts where it’s unknown how a vehicle was broken into. Malls, parking lots and parkades continue to be primary targets for criminals.

“Parking lots and parkades are targets because they are often left unattended with poor lighting thus increasing the chances that thieves will go undetected,” says Sgt. Smith.

Other Theft of Vehicle and Theft from Vehicle Stats:

• City wide, between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, 2019, a total of 3,638 vehicles were stolen in Edmonton; and 7,302 thefts from vehicles also occurred.
• The number of reported thefts from vehicles in the city has increased by 97 per cent since 2013, which had 3,701 reported incidents.
• Year to date, 2019 has had the highest number of thefts from vehicles, since 2013
• Southwest and Downtown Divisions have seen the largest increases this year.
• For theft of vehicle, there were 700 incidents reported to police just between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31 of this year; 54 of those stolen vehicles were left running with a key inside and 76 had the key or a spare key left in the car.

Tips to prevent theft of and from vehicles:

Do not leave your vehicle running – Under no circumstances should you leave your vehicle unattended while running with the key in the ignition. NOTE: Remote car starters are not a problem; they are designed to shut off if attempts are made to steal the vehicle.

No Spare Keys – Do not leave a spare key hidden in the vehicle. Thieves look for spare keys, and once they break into your vehicle, they know all the hiding spots. You can get a spare key holder for your wallet or purse.

Lock Up Your Vehicle – Always check that the doors, windows, and sun roof are shut and locked when you park your vehicle.  Leave your vehicle in a locked garage where possible. Lock your vehicle even when it is in a locked garage.

Be aware of where you park – park in parking lots that have more than one of the following:

1. Security cameras
2. Security patrolling the parking lot
3. Someone working at an entrance/exit booth
4. A gated parking lot that needs a pass to get in and out
5. Well lit
6. A busy parking lot with lots of people coming and going or an area where there are lots of vehicles or pedestrians passing by

Treat Your Keys Like Cash – Don’t leave keys in places where they are easy to steal, such as a gym locker, on your desk at work, visible in an open purse or unattended in a shopping cart. Thieves will grab and go, then head out to the parking lot and push the button on your key fob until they find your car.

Use a Steering Wheel Locking Device (e.g. The Club) – A well-secured car will deter thieves. There are other devices available to consumers to stop thieves from easily stealing your vehicle. See your local automotive stores for details.

Do not leave items in your vehicle – Thieves can be attracted to your car because personal items are left in plain sight. Never leave anything in your vehicle, including loose change, cell phones, CDs, cameras, clothing, sunglasses, cigarettes, lighters, and any other items.

Install a Remote Car Starter – Remote starters are designed to shut off if anyone attempts to drive the vehicle without a key. This will allow you to warm up your car without risk of theft.

Don’t leave a spare key fob in your vehicle- This prevents thieves from breaking into your car to see if it can be started and driven away.

Ensure safe storage of Smart Keys/Keyless ignition fobs: Store smart keys away from the vehicle and doors.  Consider investing in a “Faraday bag” to enhance security of the wireless communication system of the vehicle.

To report theft from auto under $5,000 please go to https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/ContactEPS/OnlinePropertyCrime. To report a non-emergency, call the EPS non-emergency line at 780-421-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. For all crimes in progress, call 911.