From January 3–20, the RCMP was busy in Niverville conducting checks and assessments on parked vehicles. This action was done in response to vehicle thefts and break-ins reported in the past several months.
“The purpose of the checks was twofold,” says Constable Trevor Larade of the St. Pierre RCMP detachment. “One was to determine the level of security residents were taking with their personal vehicles… The second was to provide feedback and information in a documented format as an educational tool on how important it is to lock their vehicles and take simple measures to ensure valuables were not left in plain sight.”
Indeed, this reporter woke up one cold January morning to find just such a notice on my car’s windshield (pictured).
“A total of 35 vehicles were checked,” says Larade. “25 were locked with no valuables in plain sight. Seven were locked with valuables in plain sight. Three vehicles were left completely unlocked.”
As the letters emphasized, it is important to lock our vehicles and ensure that there are no valuables lying around.
“The message to residents is that once your vehicle is locked and no valuables can be seen inside, you are reducing your chances of being victimized,” Larade says. “It is a matter of not enabling the crime by providing opportunity to criminals. A few simple steps and good habits go a long way to not becoming a victim.”
Larade says that all the checked vehicles were easily accessible to the public, including those in lots or those parked on the side of the road. The constable points out, however, that vehicles in driveways are no less at risk.
