According to RCMP, between Jan. 1, 2012 and Sept. 30, 2014 reported vehicle thefts in the Battlefords, Biggar, Unity, Cut Knife, Maidstone, Rosetown, Rosthern and Warman detachment areas have exceeded $2 million in value.
Police say the bulk of these thefts have been vehicles of significant value from rural properties, most often left unlocked with the keys in them. In some instances they may have been stored in Quonset huts or other outbuildings, providing what police describe as a false sense of security for the owners.
The thieves are ranging over a wide area, entering yard sites during the night and stealing vehicles, trailers and other equipment that is easily started or moved. On occasion they are breaking into outbuildings to do so, but for many of these vehicles, the theft could not happen without the keys being present, especially with newer vehicles and chipped key technology.
On one recent occasion, a property owner discovered the thieves in the act and went out to confront them, nearly being run over by the vehicle being stolen, so police are strongly urging the public not to make any attempts to physically confront or stop would be thieves and risk harm to themselves.
Police strongly encourage property owners to take proactive steps to secure their property by locking up vehicles and equipment, removing the ignition keys from them and the buildings they may be stored in. Police also recommend the installation of motion detecting security lighting in yard sites and on outbuildings that store vehicles and equipment of value.
According to a press release from Sgt. Carl Dinsdale of Battleford Rural Detachment, there are also options available to install motion-detecting driveway and yard alarms that alert residents to someone entering the property. More information on these options should be available from various security and alarm companies.
Dinsdale also advises anyone discovering would be thieves on their property to call 911 immediately and try to gather as much detail as possible on the vehicle and suspect and direction of travel, should they depart before police response arrives.
Since Jan 1, 2012, the Battlefords Rural RCMP Detachment has had 385 complaints of stolen vehicles, trailers, ATVs and snowmobiles. In that same time frame, there has been 291 recovered, although not all the recovered property was originally stolen from the Battlefords detachment area.
Many of the vehicles being stolen are being recovered in the rural area south of the Battlefords, stripped of tires, suspension and drive train parts. Police say they suspect the thieves are reselling these parts, some of which would have significant value, such as engines, transmissions and differentials.
Anyone with information about this or any other crime, is urged to contact the Battlefords RCMP Detachment at 1-306-446-1720 or Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through SaskTel at *8477, text TIP206 plus your message to CRIMES (274637) or submit a tip online at HYPERLINK "http://www.saskcrimestoppers.com/"www.saskcrimestoppers.com where you can also view information on other unsolved crimes.
