Coquitlam RCMP is reporting a “huge spike” in thefts of mostly older trucks and cars in recent months and are providing free steering wheel locks to owners of these vehicles in two areas of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam where the thefts are taking place.
Spokesperson Cpl. Jamie Chung said the jump in vehicle thefts mirrors a trend in other jurisdictions and police believe the vehicles are being used to commit thefts in other areas.
“We know that there are some prolific offenders who have moved into our area,” Chung said. “They are working in our area stealing cars.”
Police said the jump in car thefts is the worst since 2009 and crime analysis reveals that most of the vehicles are being stolen from areas in west Coquitlam and in north Port Coquitlam.
“We are deploying the plainclothes and uniform officers to those hot spots to increase patrols and keep an eye out for suspicious individuals near vehicles,” Chung said.
Between Jan. 1 and May 4, 235 vehicles were reported stolen. Close to half were Fords and Hondas and most vehicles were stolen at night and used to commute locally or to other communities to commit other crimes.
The top vehicles stolen are the following:
• Honda Civic (1990-’00, ‘04)
• Ford F350 (2000-’07)
•Ford Econoline Van (2004-’08,’11)
• Honda Accord (1992-’96)
• Ford F150 (1998-99, ‘01, ‘03-’04)
• Ford F250 (2003, ‘06, ‘07)
The area targeted by thieves in Port Coquitlam is bounded by Salisbury Avenue in the north, Westminster Avenue in the south, Cambridge Street in the west and Coast Meridian Road in the east.
In Coquitlam, thieves are stealing vehicles from an area bounded by Appian Way in the north, Delestre Avenue in the south, North Road to the west and Clayton Street/Bosworth Drive in the south.
Police have made flyers with instructions about how to protect vehicles from theft and volunteers are distributing the leaflets in those neighbourhoods, Chung said. Owners of vehicles being targeted by thieves can get free steering wheel locks with proof of registration, he added.
The locks are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the community station on Mary Hill Avenue in Port Coquitlam and in Coquitlam on Ridgeway Avenue.
Although most of the vehicles are older models without immobilizers or car alarms, and are mostly being hot-wired, RCMP are urging people driving newer model cars to be careful, too.
Chung said the most important thing people can do to safeguard their vehicle is to hide keys and fobs in a safe place, not in the vehicle. Anti-theft devices are also a must and people with a home security system should point the camera toward the street at their vehicle and review the footage regularly.
Police also have an auto theft prevention page on their website for more prevention tips.
