Police warn Christmas shoppers against car prowlers

Calgary police are warning shoppers not to give car prowlers any early Christmas presents this month.

The number of thefts from vehicles typically spikes in December, says Const. Tom Page. Given the hectic nature of holiday preparations, Page said shoppers are often less aware of their surroundings.

“Customers shopping sometimes just don’t understand that it’s a crime of opportunity,” Page said, adding thieves don’t need much time to break into a vehicle.

At a demonstration Tuesday to promote the police service’s car prowling prevention strategy — dubbed Operation Christmas Presence — it took Page only moments to break into a car by shattering one of its windows.

“It takes two or three seconds to pop the window, grab what they can and they’re gone,” he said.

There will be increased police visibility in mall parking lots throughout December to discourage car prowlings. But the most important thing shoppers can do is take their valuables out of their cars and hide anything they leave inside.

“Anything electronic — anything that’s of any value — they will steal,” Page said.

Wendy Mah, the crime prevention officer for the Alberta Motor Association, said the theft of vehicles also spikes during the holiday season.

Mah urged people to keep their keys with them. She advises people not to keep spare keys in the vehicle.

“Car thieves usually start off just trying to find something to steal,” Mah said. “Then if they find a key, the car goes driving away.”

As a part of Operation Christmas Presence, police will be handing out placards in parking lots that read, “All Valuables Removed.”

Page said the placards are meant to discourage car prowlers and remind shoppers to hide their valuables.

There have been 6,231 thefts of goods worth less than $5,000 from vehicles so far this year, according to the police service.