Fort St. John RCMP are advising residents to avoid leaving their vehicles unattended while running following a series of thefts.
Six vehicles have been reported stolen since Friday, according to Staff Sergeant Scott Watson. In at least two of the reported incidents, keys were left in the cars while they were running in alleged warm-up thefts.
Concerned residents took to social media this morning, asking the community to stay vigilant. Among the stolen vehicles are two white Ford F350s, one of which was taken from the yard of a local welding company. A 2013 black GMC Terrain was also reported stolen from a back alley near a café on 100th Avenue.
B.C. RCMP has provided some best practice tips to help residents avoid becoming victims of the crime of opportunity:
- Removing garage door openers from the vehicle.
- Remove spare keys from your vehicle.
- Invest in a good anti-theft device.
- Avoid leaving property in your vehicle.
- Lock your car when you leave it.
Residents are encouraged to report all thefts and any suspicious activity to the police.