Lethbridge Police have concluded Operation Cold Start and would like to remind drivers to never leave a running vehicle unlocked and unattended.
The initiative is organized annually by the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police. It involves a province-wide awareness campaign aimed at preventing warm-up thefts.
Warm-up thefts are crimes of opportunity, where thieves target vehicles left running and unattended.
During the campaign, police attended various areas of the city and located 14 vehicles that were running, unlocked and unattended. In cases where the drivers couldn’t be found, pamphlets with tips on preventing vehicle theft were left on the windshield.
Motorists are reminded to take steps to safeguard their vehicle:
- If you’re warming up your vehicle with the keys in the ignition or with a push button start, stay with your vehicle.
- Never leave children or pets inside a running vehicle.
