High River RCMP are warning people in the Foothills area to remove their valuables and lock up their vehicles or risk losing them.

Cpl.Blair Schneider says there is a higher volume than normal of thefts in the High River area from vehicles and unsecured garages.

Schneider says theft from vehicles is a crime of opportunity.

"If they see something that they want, or something is visible and is of valuable they break in and they go in and take it," said Schneider. "Chances are if there is nothing in sight, then they usually leave you alone. They are not going to break into your vehicle and risk getting caught."

But people are always leaving a long list of items in their cars that make them easy prey.

"People leave wallets, spare keys, keys for the vehicles, keys for the ignition, keys for the house, lap tops, they leave iPads, iPods, you name it people leave it in their vehicles. So we are asking people to remove everything out of their vehicles."

Schneider adds, if everything is removed  from the car or placed out of sight in a locked trunk, the thieves usually move on to the next target.
 
The bad guys in these cases are usually people who are in the drug subculture and they are looking for things that can be sold easily, or loose change.

Along with your vehicles, unsecured garages are also targets.

"We are reminding peolpe to ensure that their garage is secured when unattended and that the overhead door and main doors are locked at night," said Schneider.

"We are also encouraging people to report any suspicious persons, vehicles or activities to RCMP."

You can call the police at the complaint line at 403-652-2356 and they will investigate.

 

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