(UPDATE: Jan 27 @ 4:00 pm) - Following a car theft on Jan. 25, police have recovered a stolen vehicle and have since returned it to the rightful owner.
On Jan. 26, around 8 pm, Kamloops RCMP received a report of a woman slumped over in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in a parking lot on the 1800-block of Hwy 5A.
A license plate was provided and confirmed to be that of a Honda Civic reported stolen from outside a building on the 1000-block of Hillside Drive.
The sole occupant of the vehicle was arrested and released with a court date, pending the investigation’s conclusion and subsequent charge assessment process.
Suspected drugs, a knife, and an air pistol were also located and seized.
A black Audi with a BC marker of MB011G is still outstanding.
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to please contact the Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2022-2675.
(ORIGINAL STORY: Jan 26 @ 6:30 pm) - As the Kamloops RCMP put it; Keys attract thieves.
Over the past three days, police have responded to three separate reports of vehicles being stolen after they were left idling with keys in the ignition.
The first two thefts occurred in front of the same Aberdeen business on the 1800-block of Hwy 5A on Jan. 23. The most recent occurred on Jan. 25 outside of a business on the 1000-block of Hillside Drive.
Of the three thefts, only one vehicle, a truck, has been recovered so far.
A silver Honda Civic with Alberta marker BKX7049 and a black Audi with BC marker of MB011G are still outstanding.
Police are reminding the public to be on alert and to take their car keys with them when they exit their vehicle, especially if it's running.
“Even if you’re close to your vehicle and can see it from where you are, when the keys are left in the ignition it presents an opportunity for thieves to quickly steal it,” said Corporal Dana Napier, Kamloops RCMP Crime Prevention Unit.
“Even if it’s locked, it takes a minute to smash a window and hop in.”
On top of the theft of a car, it can also lead to a ripple effect of crime and inconveniences.
“If your house keys were on the same key ring, now you have to worry about the thief finding your address on the vehicle’s insurance papers and breaking into your home,” said Cpl. Napier.
“So along with having to deal with the trouble of having your vehicle stolen, now there are house locks to rekey and other possible spin-off expenses.”
If anyone sees or has information related to the two remaining stolen vehicles, please contact the Kamloops RCMP and reference file number 2022-2578 for the Audi, 2022-2675 for the Civic.
