An off-duty RCMP member aided in preventing vehicle thefts.
Early this morning, around 3:00 a.m., Battlefords RCMP were dispatched to 15th Street in Battleford over a complain of stolen vehicles.
An off-duty officer was woken up by a vehicle driving in an erratic manner and got up to investigate. The officer interrupted the theft and was able to secure 2 stolen vehicles by removing the keys until the police arrived.
RCMP later arrested a 13-year-old suspect believed to be involved in the thefts.
Police warn that in the vast majority of recent vehicle thefts, suspects locate the keys in an unlocked vehicle, and are able to steal it in a matter of seconds.
The public are urged to remove all keys and valuables from their vehicles and keep them locked when they are not nearby.