It’s the kind of thing that makes police sigh from 1,000 feet in the air. According to the Regina Police Service, an aerial support unit recently watched from above as a man walked through the Westerra neighbourhood, going car to car to car — checking door handles. When he found one unlocked, he helped himself. Then he moved on, finding another unlocked vehicle. And on. And on.
By the time ground patrol arrived, the suspect had already stolen items from multiple vehicles. He was arrested without incident. But the bigger issue, police say, is how many of those vehicles were just left open.
Fifty-three vehicle break-ins were reported to Regina Police in the past month alone, and nearly all involved unlocked doors or open windows.
And Moose Jaw isn’t immune.
“We do get reports of this frequently,” said Jay-D Haughton, public information and strategic communications manager for the Moose Jaw Police Service.
"With individuals that try to break into vehicles, a lot of the time it's a crime of opportunity. So, they'll go and they'll try handles of vehicles and the ones that are unlocked, they'll enter and see what they could potentially steal."
The advice isn’t new, but it’s worth repeating:
- Don’t leave your car unlocked, not even in your own driveway.
- Don’t leave valuables inside, even hidden under the seat.
- That includes garage door openers, power tools, phones, wallets, and even spare keys.
- And if you’re leaving your car at a friend’s place while away on vacation, let them check on it and park it somewhere well lit.
For added deterrence, Haughton recommends steering wheel locks as a visual cue for thieves, essentially advertising that the car is owned by someone careful and security aware.
Tap-enabled credit and debit cards are also a growing concern. In several Regina cases, stolen cards were used within minutes to make “tap theft” purchases at local stores.
Police will continue to patrol and investigate. Haughton said they take all reported thefts seriously. He noted it's clear that responsibility for crimes lies with the perpetrators and they will be caught and charged under the law. But as both Regina and Moose Jaw officers made clear this week: Prevention starts with the people who own the vehicles.
“Obviously,” said Haughton, “don’t leave your vehicle unlocked.”