Common sense from public can help deter car prowling

The City of Lethbridge like the rest of the prairie provinces has seen a significant increase in property crimes. It is largely accepted there is a correlation to the opioid crisis and that people are committing the crimes to feed their habit.

One of the property crimes that is frequently reported is car prowling — the act in which the criminal goes through a citizen’s vehicle to find anything they can sell or trade for drugs.

Car prowling is 100 per cent a crime of opportunity. Very rarely do thieves break a window to get in but when they do it’s because something of value like a mobile device, laptop, golf clubs, wallet or sports equipment is in plain view. Most often it is a case where the vehicle was not locked and the criminals rummage through for anything of value.

Lately we have been absolutely inundated with the theft of credit cards that are acquired by criminals in a matter of seconds when they find a wallet or purse inside an unlocked vehicle. Many of today’s credit cards automatically have tap capability which does not require one to enter a PIN. A simple tap of the card and the purchase is complete.

What we experience is by the time a citizen realizes their wallet and credit cards are missing, cancels them and reports the theft to police, it’s already too late and a number of fraudulent tap transactions have been processed. Each of those transactions turn into hours of investigation for the police as we chase down video from the stores where the transactions occurred, obtain statements from the victim and employees and try to locate the criminal if they are identifiable.

This type of crime is absolutely frustrating. It is so pervasive that to really address it would require a police officer on every corner which is not fiscally viable nor necessarily wanted by some citizens.

Logic would suggest that police interaction with people out and about in the wee hours of the morning, in neighbourhoods they don’t live in, while the majority of citizens are sleeping to be rested for their jobs and other meaningful contributions to society, may deter the activity. It has long been considered good old-fashioned police work but in today’s environment some consider it “carding” (a U.S. term that has improperly spread into Canadian vernacular) and has led to public scrutiny of diligent officers.

Compounding the frustration with this crime is that even if we make an arrest and lay a charge it is considered such a “low end” crime that it rarely results in incarceration to act as a deterrent. It also spawns discussions as to whether incarceration addresses root causes — i.e. addictions — that perpetuate the crime.

I am not about to debate that in this column. The role of the police is to gather evidence and lay the charges based on reasonable and probable grounds. What happens with respect to prosecution and sentencing of a criminal is up to the Crown, defence counsel and the judges.

A core function of the police is crime prevention and when it comes to the theft of credit or debit cards acquired through car prowling, the crime is largely preventable. I write this article in hopes of changing behaviour. First, I urge all citizens to make it a habit to remove your valuables, wallets, purses or anything that holds your credit cards from your vehicles. I cannot stress how quickly these cards are used in a short period of time because of tap technology.

The second part of the prevention is to develop a routine to ensure your vehicle is locked. Whether it be auto theft, car prowling and the theft ✦of

credit cards, our analysis of these crimes shows both happen because the vehicles are typically unlocked with valuables or a spare key left inside.

By being diligent in locking the vehicle, an effective preventive measure is in place. I appreciate that most banks absorb the financial piece, but the police are left with hours of investigation for something that could have been prevented. Citizens need to do their part in preventing credit card thefts and frauds.

Always remove all valuables from your vehicle and lock the doors. Guard your cards!