By CHAT News Today

Police sharing information about stolen vehicles to drive message home

Sep 21, 2017 | 9:08 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Police Service is driving home the message that drivers need to be locking their vehicles.

Inspector Joe West discussed the issue of stolen vehicles at the Police Commission meeting Thursday night.

So far this year, 115 vehicles have been reported stolen, which is nearly double from this time last year.

“We just never know what we’re going to come across with stolen vehicles, it’s a huge public safety issue and an officer safety issue as well,” said Inspector Joe West.

In July, officers were called out after hearing about a suspicious vehicle on the southeast hill. Police ran the licence plate on the vehicle and found it had been stolen from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The man driving was later arrested. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded shotgun on the floor of the driver’s seat.

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West said many of the cases police see are crimes of opportunity.

“We do have prolific car thieves,” West said. “We know who they are, we proactively pursue them. We know when they’re getting out of the corrections system and we pay close attention to them. I think there’s also crimes of opportunity where citizens are leaving keys inside their vehicles and we’ve got people checking cars and [we’re] finding that people are a little more bold when it comes to stealing vehicles.

As a way to better inform the public that vehicle thefts are on the rise, the service will be sharing the number of stolen vehicles every week, along with providing pictures when they’re made available. Information about a vehicle will also be shared as soon as it’s reported stolen.

West said the service is also working with different community groups, including AMA, to drive home the message that drivers need to be locking their vehicles.