Vehicle thefts in Olds to the end of August are up 21 per cent, compared to the same period last year, according to Olds RCMP.
Thirteen had been stolen in town from Aug. 6 to Sept. 6.
The rural part of the detachment saw the opposite trend: a 23 per cent decrease over that period. But that stat sounds more ominous than it is. Five vehicles had been stolen in Mountain View County from Aug. 6 to Sept. 6, compared to four during the same period last year.
Almost all vehicles stolen since the beginning of August were pickup trucks. Two were not.
Specifically, 51 vehicles had been stolen in Olds from January through the end of August, up 21 per cent from the same period last year when 42 were stolen.
That said, Cpl. Shawn Morgan notes there was a decrease in stolen vehicles in town each month during the first six months of the year. However, that changed in July and August when the theft rate rose.
Police are reminding the public to lock their vehicles and remove any keys and contents when vehicles are left unattended.
