RCMP in Prince George are reminding drivers to take extra precautions with their vehicles during this cold weather snap.
As the temperature drop drivers will be tempted to warm up their vehicles before departing. However, without remote start those drivers are at a disadvantage and need to make a choice between a cold vehicle or leaving the vehicle running with the keys in the ignition.
RCMP recently dealt with a theft in relation to this exact scenario. On January 27 a resident was in a parking lot on the 3000 block of Massey Dr, waiting for her vehicle to warm up while sitting in a friend’s vehicle. The idling car was within eyesight of the owner, who watched a male get out of a nearby pick-up truck, get into the idling car and drive off. The vehicle was located the following morning crashed into a ditch. Police identified the male driver was 26-year-old Cheven Schlitt and arrested him for possession of stolen property.
A second incident took place after midnight on February 3rd in a parking lot on the 1700 block of Queensway. An employee of a local business left his vehicle warming in a parking lot and within minutes a female got into the car and drove off. Thankfully video surveillance caught the incident and officers located the vehicle a short distance away. Police arrested the driver, 34-year-old Nikita Teegee for theft of a motor vehicle.
Police are reminding everyone not to make themselves a potential target for car theft.
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