Photo released by police following a reported vehicle theft in May. (submitted photo/Prince Albert Police Service)

By Nigel Maxwell

City Crime

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Nov 1, 2019 | 2:35 PM

Members of the Prince Albert Police Service have seen a spike in vehicle thefts this past week.

According to statistics posted on the police service website, there were seven vehicles reported stolen from Oct. 26 to Oct 31. The thefts occurred at various locations across the city. Tyler McMurchy, a spokesperson for Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), told paNOW half of auto theft occurs because either the keys were left in the unlocked vehicle or the vehicle was left running.

“We always want to say to people don’t make a thief’s job easy,” he said, adding keys should not be left in the ignition, in the glove box, under a floor mat or even in the garage.

“Thieves know the hiding places you might choose and can usually find them pretty quickly,” he explained.

From Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, there have been a total of 240 vehicle thefts reported to Prince Albert Police. McMurchy said stolen vehicles make our streets less safe.

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“One of the things we want to remind the public is that auto thefts are often crimes of opportunity. Stolen vehicles are often used in the commission of other crimes,” he said.

According to stats provided by SGI, the most popular types of vehicle sought by thieves is the Ford F150 Supercrew 4WD, followed by the Ford F350 Superduty Crewcab. Other models showing up on claims include the Dodge RAM 1500 Quad Cab, the Dodge Grand Caravan, and the GMC Sierra Crewcab.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell