While it’s common practice to “warm up the car” before leaving the house on colder winter mornings, Surrey RCMP are reminding people to keep a close eye on their vehicle while doing so.
The warning comes in the wake of four separate stolen vehicle reports that have already been received by police this week.
In each case the vehicle was stolen as it idled in the driveway of the home, while the owner was still in the house.
Originally saying they had only received two reports, Surrey RCMP updated the number to four on Wednesday, tweeting about the situation as well.
Make that FOUR reports of vehicles stolen with keys, unlocked in the driveway. 2 more reports from yesterday morning. https://t.co/XIPe2G8Y18
— Surrey RCMP (@SurreyRCMP) December 13, 2017
Surrey RCMP Cpl. Scotty Schumann confirmed the total number of reported thefts, which he said have taken place “all over the city.”
Schumann told Daily Hive the thefts all occurred in the morning, between 5 am and 9 am.
But, he noted, “we regularly find these vehicles abandoned usually within a few days.”
At this point, no description of a suspect – or suspects – is available.
And while Schumann noted that overall, property crime in Surrey is on the decline, he noted it’s important to continue that trend “by not making it easy for would-be thieves.”
Good advice.