Opportunistic thieves are taking advantage of the cold weather to steal vehicles left unattended while they are being warmed up, Prince George RCMP are warning.
“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," said Cst. Jennifer Cooper. "Twice in the past week, residents of Prince George have fallen victim to just such an occurrence,”
The first occurred on Wed., Jan. 27 in a 3000-block Massey Drive parking lot where, shortly after 11:30 p.m., a woman was sitting in a friend's car waiting for her own to warm up.
From there, she saw a man get out of a nearby pickup truck, get into her vehicle and drive off. It was found the next morning crashed into a ditch.
Cheven Schlitt, 26, has since been arrested and charged with possessing stolen property.
The second occurred shortly after midnight on Wed., Feb. 3, in a 1700 block Queensway Street parking lot where, within minutes of an employee of a nearby business leaving his vehicle idling, a woman hopped in and drove away.
With the help of video surveillance, police said they were able to find the vehicle a short distance away and arrest Nikita Teegee, 34.
Both Schlitt and Teegee have since been released pending future court dates.
