Theft of idling vehicle numbers heat up as temperatures cool down

As temperatures drop and winter settles in across northern Alberta, incidents involving theft of vehicles left idling are on the rise.

“It is an unfortunate reality of living in a winter city - people want to sit in a warm vehicle,” said EPS EPS Const. Brett Earley, Community Engagement Team. “We get it, unfortunately so do thieves. The winter is the perfect weather for criminals to target residential neighbourhoods and shopping centres for vehicles left running.”

Most incidents typically occur on weekdays during peak commuting times, from Monday to Friday, between 5 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., while citizens are preparing to travel or stopping on the way to their places of employment.

Once again this year, the EPS Operation Cold Start program is attempting to change citizens’ habits with respect to leaving their idling vehicles unattended, unlocked and with keys inside. Members will conduct proactive patrols scouring various neighbourhoods for vehicles left idling and unlocked.

Officers then approach the residence with the goal of engaging and educating the owner of the vehicle in a discussion regarding the crime of auto theft, and the other crimes your vehicle may be involved in.

“Not only are thieves stealing your vehicle, they’re often using your ride to conduct other violent crimes throughout our city,” explained Const. Earley. “It’s a terrible inconvenience and expense to have your car stolen. It’s a lifetime of regret knowing your stolen vehicle was used to seriously hurt or even kill an innocent civilian during another criminal offence.”

So far in 2021, 66 vehicles left idling have been stolen in the downtown area, 48 from the Oliver neighbourhood, 42 from the Boyle Street area and 40 from Central McDougall (see additional hot spot stats below).

Click here to view the EPS Theft of Idling Vehicle commercial currently being broadcast on Edmonton television stations:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXZnv74XYts

 

Top 10 Neighborhoods for Idling vehicles 2019-2021	Count
DOWNTOWN (CORE)	23
MCCAULEY	20
CENTRAL MCDOUGALL	19
QUEEN MARY PARK	18
ALBERTA AVENUE	18
OLIVER	11
BOYLE STREET	11
CANORA	10
INGLEWOOD	10
WESTWOOD	10

Table 3: Idling vehicles by neighborhood 2019 January 01 to 2021 November 30 (YTD), Edmonton Police Service