Law enforcement and community partners will be conducting an awareness blitz this weekend in an effort to help auto theft-proof the community.
Vehicle thefts are a constant issue, says Olds RCMP Const.. Rene Daoust.
“Ultimately we’ll never prevent auto theft 100 per cent but we can make people aware and bring those statistics down for sure in Olds,” said Daoust.
On the evening of Aug. 18 RCMP and Olds Citizens on Patrol members, and likely town peace officers, will be in the parking lots of Cornerstone shopping centre for the rollout of the Help End Auto Theft (H.E.A.T.) program.
Between the hours of 6 and 9 p.m. they will be canvassing the vehicles in the commercial parking lots with an eye for easy targets for thieves.
“There are good tickets for people locking their doors as well as having valuables out of plain sight and reminders for people that are leaving valuables in plain sight and not locking the doors,” said Daoust.
The initiative has been a few months in the making and is modelled after similar programs carried out in other locations in the province, including Grande Prairie.
“This is so people in Olds may be a little bit more aware of how they park their vehicles in the light during the night as well and to remind them to lock their doors at all times,” he said.
Vehicles parked away from lights are easier targets for thieves, said Daoust as are vehicles with valuables left out in plain sight.
