Sit in a cold car and wait for it to warm up instead of leaving it idle for thieves to potentially steal.
That’s the message from Prince George RCMP this morning (Feb. 4) after police dealt with a pair of similar incidents in recent weeks that led to the arrest of two people after stealing a vehicle that had been sitting idle to be warmed up for the owner.
After midnight on Wednesday (Feb. 3), an employee from a business on 1700-block Queensway left their vehicle idling in a parking lot to warm up, but within minutes, a woman got inside and drove away.
Officers tended to the incident and arrested 34-year-old Nikita Teegee not too far away for theft of a motor vehicle thanks to nearby video surveillance.
She appeared in Prince George court later that morning.
A week earlier, on the night of Jan. 27, a vehicle in a parking lot on 3000-block Massey Drive was stolen and located the next morning in a ditch.
It’s owner started the engine, and then waited in a friend’s car while it was warming up, but, all within their eyesight, a man got out of a nearby pick-up truck, got inside and drove away.
After the vehicle was found, Mounties arrested 26-year-old Cheven Schlitt and has since been charged with possession of stolen property.
He is scheduled to appear at a later court date, per the B.C. Prosecution Service.
Prince George RCMP spokesperson Cst. Jennifer Cooper says vehicle owners that don’t have remote start are at a disadvantage in the cold weather, as evidenced by these instances.
“The Prince George RCMP strongly advises against making the choice to leave your vehicle running with the keys in the ignition, as it gives car-thieves the opportunity to steal your car in mere seconds,” she explained in a release.
“Both of these incidents highlight the rapid way car-thieves can work. It is a crime of opportunity, which takes no preparation or planning.
Both investigations remain ongoing.
Police are reminding everyone to ensure they’re not the victim of a vehicle crime and to take all precautions necessary.
