WESTLOCK – Operation Cold Start, a first-time provincewide RCMP initiative aimed at preventing thefts of idling vehicles, was deemed a success in Westlock with more than half of the people police interacted with using command-start systems.
Westlock RCMP Staff Sgt. Al Baird said that during the Jan. 31 to Feb. 6 campaign they had 68 interactions with residents and found 17 unlocked vehicles idling with keys in the ignition, while 11 were locked and left idling with keys in the ignition.
According to an RCMP release, Alberta has the highest per capita auto theft rate in the country with 25 per cent of stolen vehicles taken while idling — a situation far more prevalent in the winter as thieves often look for people who start their vehicles then leave them unattended as they return to their home or into a store. In 2021, Westlock RCMP dealt with 34 vehicle thefts, which was down by two over the previous year.
“There was a lot of people who were using their command starts which was definitely good to see,” said Baird, adding he was unsurprised by the number of unlocked vehicles left running.
“I understand that people who don’t have command start need to warm up their vehicles and some people at least locked it, which is a step up although it’s still an opportunity for smash and grabs.”
Aside from installing command start, RCMP recommend steering wheel locking devices and removing valuable items like purses, wallets, keys or change. They also recommend keeping the keys to your vehicles in a safe place and out of plain sight in a secure location.
“I didn’t hear any negative feedback from the members who participated, it went very well. It’s an education thing, so at least we were able to give people a heads up,” added Baird, noting they’ll participate in the program in 2023 if it runs again.
Border blockade
The Westlock RCMP Detachment sent a handful of members down to the Coutts border protest which ran from Jan. 29 to Feb. 15 — the exodus of vehicles came one day after RCMP arrested more than a dozen people and seized a cache of firearms and ammunition which included 13 long guns, handguns, a machete, a large quantity of ammunition and body armour.
“We didn’t have any decreased level of local service because were able to make it up with overtime,” said Baird.
Local officers being called to national events isn’t new, said Baird, recalling the Vancouver Olympics that drew officers from around the nation.
“They might,” when asked if local officers could be sent to Ottawa. “If they need people I’m sure it would be public-order teams instead of say general-duty members. But I don’t know what they need and haven’t heard anything so I guess we’ll wait and see what happens in the next few days.”
