Auto Theft Info & Tips

 Did you know?

Theft from vehicles is linked to identity theft?

After cracking an identity theft ring Coquitlam RCMP investigators found that one out of three of the stolen identity documents like insurance papers, driver's licenses and passports being used to create fraudulent ID could be traced back to vehicle theft files.

Leaving your car doors unlocked may attract criminal attention to your neighbourhood?

Criminals who break in to vehicles are known as opportunistic offenders. That means that they tend to look for easy targets like vehicles with valuables left in the open or vehicles that have been left unlocked. It also means that if these criminals find a target-rich environment—like a neighbourhood or parking lot with a lot of unlocked vehicles—they will keep coming back. Be a good neighbour. Don’t be the reason criminals target your neighbourhood.

Do:

• Lock your doors and roll up your windows. Even if you don't have anything valuable in your car, a locked door and rolled up window will discourage thieves looking for an easy target. It will also deter those who would go into an unlocked car to look for a trunk or hood release button in order to steal parts or the contents of the trunk. 
• Park in your garage if you have one, and lock both your vehicle and your garage.
• Wait for the gate. When entering or leaving underground parking garages, wait for the automatic gate to close before proceeding.
• Park in well-lit/well-populated areas where "natural surveillance" can serve as a deterrent. 
• Take your garage opener, house/business keys and vehicle registration papers out of your vehicle when it’s parked. If thieves stole these items, they could use them to commit other crimes including identity theft and break & enter.
• Check on your vehicle. Even if you're not driving it regularly, a daily check can help ensure that we get information of criminal activity in a timely manner. If you're away on vacation, have a trusted friend or neighbour check to ensure it hasn't been broken into.

Don't:

• Leave your valet key, spare key or house keys inside the vehicle. 
• Store car keys, or spare keys, in visible spots in your home. Keep keys in a secure spot, where they aren’t visible through a window. 
• Leave your car running. Whether to cool it down in summer, warm it up in winter, leaving your vehicle running with the keys inside is extremely high risk. 
• Leave briefcases, purses and backpacks that may contain wallets, identification, laptops, cell phones and other valuables unattended in your vehicle. Not even for a moment. Not even locked in your trunk or glove box. You never know when a criminal is around looking for an opportunity. But you can rest assured that thieves know to check the trunk and glove box if they don't see anything out in the open. 
• Leave the security of your vehicle to chance. If your vehicle doesn’t come equipped with an immobilizer consider having one installed or buying and using an anti-theft device.
   

If you see something, say something!

Public safety is everyone's responsibility—and it's easy. The best way to do your part for public safety is to get connected to your neighbourhood, pay attention to what is going on around you and report any criminal or suspicious activity to the police. Find out more about reporting criminal and suspicious activity to the Coquitlam RCMP.