Maidstone RCMP is reminding drivers to secure their vehicles as vehicle theft is a growing concern in the community.
Constable Eric Arsenault of the detachment found seven unlocked vehicles running on February 6 which could have been stolen. He says it took him about 35 to 40 minutes to find the vehicles which he secured and then warned the drivers.
From the beginning of the year to February 6, six vehicles were reported stolen, four of which were left running with the keys inside. On February 10, an unlocked and running vehicle was stolen from a gas station in Maidstone which involved officers from the Maidstone, Cut Knife and Battlefords detachment to recover the vehicle.
“In the past year, we’ve had 66 vehicles stolen from the Maidstone area not including vehicles stolen from Lloydminster, the Battlefords and other surrounding communities. A lot of these vehicles stolen tend to have the keys left in them.”
He says the vehicles will either be put up for resale by the thieves or they will use them in additional crimes.
“This year again we’re seeing in the wintertime people [leaving vehicles] because it’s easier to heat up or they are running into the store quickly but it takes only a few seconds to walk up hop in a vehicle and drive it away.”
Arsenault says the detachment will continue to monitor the area and educate residents on the dangers of leaving a vehicle unattended.