Thefts from vehicles are becoming an epidemic in town and Okotoks RCMP are looking at all options to get a handle on the problem.
In an effort to encourage the public to get involved and provide tips on past robberies RCMP teamed up with Crime Stoppers on Jan. 25 to film a re-enactment of a theft from a vehicle in Okotoks.
“We’re hoping to get on top of the problem early because summer is coming,” said Sgt. Ian Shardlow of Okotoks RCMP. “Theft from vehicles is primarily a summer event, although it has happened throughout the year.”
The filming took place along Woodglen Place just off Woodhaven Drive in Okotoks on Jan. 25.
However, the choice of filming location was of no major significance. Thefts from vehicles have been taking place in every neighbourhood throughout the community, Shardlow said.
In 2010, Shardlow said there were 285 reported incidents of theft from vehicles in Okotoks. There was a comparatively lower number (163) reported incidents of thefts from vehicles in 2009, he added.
However, Shardlow said he believes the number is a small portion of the actual number of thefts from vehicles as not all incidents are reported to RCMP.
“Sometimes these are fairly minor thefts, and often people think it’s an inconvenience or too much bother (to report the incident),” he explained.
The number also doesn’t include suspicious person complaints or vehicles broken into where nothing was stolen, Shardlow said.
An increasingly prevalent criminal trend most worrisome to police are groups of people who steal from vehicles together, Shardlow said. In 2010, Okotoks RCMP arrested several suspects involved in group thefts, he said.
“It’s called ‘car shopping,’” he explained. “That’s a concern for us because the phrase ‘car shopping’ doesn’t really have a criminal context to it. It seems like it’s no big deal… It’s reached that level of acceptance amongst some groups in the community.”
Okotoks RCMP are asking the public to report all thefts or break-ins involving vehicles, as well as suspicious persons, regardless of how minor the incident may seem.
While the majority of suspicious person reports are harmless, Shardlow said those seemingly innocuous details are often the “last piece to the puzzle.”
“That’s why we’re asking people to report every incident to us simply so we can statistically gather where we are at,” Shardlow said. “That will allow us to analyze crime trends and look to focus resources where they are needed.”
Individual cases of theft are difficult to solve, Shardlow said. However, once one arrest is made, it is often possible to solve dozens of other incidents through forensics, recovered property or admissions linked to other suspects.
Shardlow also reminded Okotokians to remove valuables and lock their cars when they are not in use.
“These offences are 100 per cent preventable if people simply take out their possessions and lock their vehicles,” Shardlow said.
Okotoks RCMP is continuing to investigate a number of thefts from vehicles around the community and is requesting the public’s assistance in solving these crimes. If anyone has any information regarding theft from a vehicle or any other crimes, please contact Okotoks RCMP at 403-938-7046 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
