Lock it or Lose it!

May 1, 2018 @ 13:2S

The Superior East Detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reminds vehicle owners to lock their unattended vehicles at all times, even in your own driveways. It only takes a few seconds for a theft to occur. The “would-be” thieves are looking for easy items to steal such as: loose change, purses, wallets and electronic devices.

Police recommend some of these crime prevention strategies to reduce the possibility of being victimized:

  • Lock your vehicle
  • Never leave a running vehicle unattended
  • Don’t leave any valuables in your vehicle in plain view
  • Park your vehicle in a driveway or if you have a garage use it and lock it
  • If you have to leave your vehicle on the street, lock it and park it in a well-lit area.
  • Completely close all vehicle windows when parked
  • Keep your driver’s license and vehicle registration with, in your wallet or purse
  • Never leave your vehicle keys in plain view.

The public can learn more about preventing thefts on the OPP website at www.opp.ca

Any person with information regarding thefts should contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or their nearest police authority.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

9 comments

  1. So, it’s ok for police to come on my property and look in my car and see if it’s locked and see what I have in view because they have a damn badge. No. That’s bull.
    This pissed me off.
    My car, my choice if I lock it or not.

    • Agreed

    • I do not agree with anyone entering my property in the wee hours of the night/morning. Leaving a ”ticket” on my windshield is just advertising if my vehicle is unlocked or keys in..just makes temptation for the thieves. Please..do not enter onto my property you are not allowed.

  2. I doubt they came onto your property! They check vehicles in public places such as the street, parking lots, parks, but if you choose to leave your car unlocked and overnight in your driveway, I think you are on your own there.

    So as long as you don’t expect insurance companies to pay for your stolen articles if you exercised your right to leave your car unlocked.

    • They do come onto your property…not just on public roads. I never leave anything of value in my vehicle.purse…wallet…phones…..not one red cent!!! If we need police to have to tell us ADULTS to lock up our vehicles then i think there is something wrong. Speaking of insurance companies…so… once they get a hold of this data from the police..then rest assure if you leave or forget to lock up..that data will be sent to your insurance company..and guess who’s going to pay higher rates? My vehicle is locked all the time..because i don’t have to be reminded to lock it up…nor do i have to be told or reminded to not leave personal items in my vehicle . But leaving a huge red and white ”ticket” on anyone’s vehicle stating that ”door is unlocked” or ”keys in ignition” is just asking for trouble.

    • They came right onto my property. Up my whole driveway right beside my house. My car was not on the street, or in a parking lot. They came on my property, looked into my car even wrote on my *ticket* what they thought was valuable and checked if my car was locked. Due to the fact that it was dark they would of had to use a flashlight to look into my car to see my items. I am not impressed.

  3. Actually Linda…they did come on my property in my driveway and left a ticket on my windshield telling me I left my vehicle unlocked. I know better! I have had my truck broken into and stuff stolen (it was in my driveway)… twice to be exact. Before it is said No I didn’t expect my Insurance company to pay for it! I didn’t even report it to them. I now leave nothing in my vehicle that is worth stealing! I am hopefully going to use this as a learning experience to remind me to lock my truck while at home.

  4. If you choose not to lock your vehicle you should not be allowed to make an insurance claim when things are damaged or stolen. Other people’s claim affect MY insurance rate and that is not fair.

    • People just have to stop leaving valuables in their vehicles…wether you lock your vehicle or not…if there are valuables in there…the thieves will get in. Don’t need a program where other adults have to remind adults to lock up…as far as insurance claims go…i agree…shouldn’t make a claim if you choose to leave doors unlocked…however…YOUR insurance can have access to this data from this program…and if by chance you forgot to lock your vehicle up…and it gets checked….YOUR insurance will be going up !!! For just one little mistake of forgetting to lock up….sound fair??