The Lethbridge Police Service will be out and about through the month of February to remind residents of ways they can protect themselves from being a target of car thieves.
LPS officials say the month-long awareness campaign, dubbed Operation Cold Start, will see uniformed officers look for unattended idling vehicles to determine if they are unlocked and/or have the keys in the ignition. If the owner is nearby, police will then make the effort to educate them on the various ways they can reduce the likelihood of being victimized.
Officers will also leave literature on the windshield for the vehicle’s owner if they can’t be located, with tips outlining how to prevent warm-up thefts, including the use of a remote starter or the need to stay with their vehicle while it warms up.
Authorities say 31 vehicles were reported stolen in Lethbridge in December 2021, up from 26 the year prior. Overall, 244 vehicles were reported stolen in the city in 2021, compared with 224 in 2020 and 274 in 2019.