Leaving keys in vehicle won’t cost drivers — yet

SGI chooses public education over insurance hike despite rising thefts

SASKATOON Saskatchewan Government Insurance says it’s not proposing any financial penalties against people whose vehicles are stolen with the keys left inside — for now.

Last year, the fund spoke publicly about considering insurance consequences when a vehicle is stolen under those circumstances. At the time, executive vice-president Earl Cameron acknowledged people sometimes leave their keys behind accidentally, and that this has led to a public debate. Ultimately, SGI shelved the idea. “It hasn’t necessarily been completely ruled out for the future, but right now we’re kind of hoping the awareness efforts that we’re undertaking — and along with the awareness efforts police continually do — will result in few people leaving keys or keyless fobs in or around their vehicle,” SGI spokesman Tyler Mcmurchy said.

Instead, SGI plans to focus on awareness and education. The first move in this direction came in June in the form of an ad, which depicted a car theft resulting from keys left in a vehicle, during which the thief began to inject drugs into his arm.

SGI does not track the number of stolen vehicle claims that involve keys left in or near the vehicle. However, the Crown-owned insurer has said the number of vehicle thefts stemming from keys left in vehicles has risen by 46 per cent over the last five years.

The fund is concerned about the significant increase in the number of auto thefts and it recognizes the arguments on both sides, for and against insurance penalties, Mcmurchy said.

Saskatchewan residents can expect more awareness campaigns, media blitzes and social media posts. More than half of stolen vehicles are written off and are used in the commission of other crimes, he said.

That, coupled with a seasonal spike in auto thefts, concerns Saskatoon police.

“As soon as the weather turns cold and we have snow on the ground, we see more and more people start their vehicles, leave them running and when they come out a few minutes later, they’ve been stolen,” said Staff Sgt. A.J. Chevli, a member of the city police economic crimes unit.

Last year, 1,143 vehicles were reported stolen in Saskatoon. As of mid-november this year, that number was at 1,080 — including more than 200 since Oct. 1. Chevli said the vehicle was left running or the keys were inside in at least a quarter of the incidents.

His goal is to reduce the number of vehicles stolen, which would also reduce the number of police vehicle pursuits — situations that can lead to fatalities or serious injuries and property damage.

Pursuits often end with the suspect being apprehended by police.

Regina police are making a similar plea to drivers. Last week, they called on vehicle owners to not leave vehicles running and unattended, reminding them that the stress and inconvenience of dealing with a stolen vehicle far outweighs any benefit the owner could gain by leaving it running unattended.

According to numbers provided to Regina’s Board of Police Commissioners, auto theft incidents have topped 1,000 three years in a row — 2015 to 2017 — including 1,033 in 2017. As of the end of September, 965 auto thefts had been reported in the city this year, compared to 674 over the same period in 2017. Between Nov. 18 and 22, 39 vehicles were reported stolen, and about 56 per cent of those cases involved keys left in the vehicle, the vehicle left running or the keys being stolen and used.

Saskatoon police are also using “theft reduction vehicles,” which are purchased from SGI for a nominal amount and outfitted with cameras and sensors. As soon as the vehicle is opened, police are alerted and dispatched. The program is a co-partnership with SGI and has been in place for three years. There have been 38 incidents, with just as many arrests.

Chevli said trucks are the top vehicles targeted by auto thieves, so police have picked vehicles that mirror this and are non-operational. They leave keys in the vehicle, as

(Theft reduction vehicles) are purchased from SGI for a nominal amount and outfitted with cameras and sensors.

well as items that are not in plain view. The vehicles are left in areas that are hot spots for auto theft are any given time.

Senior police management are now reviewing the future of the program and whether to continue it.