Keep Those Christmas Gifts Under Wraps

Ontario Police Chiefs Remind Us to Lock it OR Lose it!


By Bill McLauchlan

It never ceases to amaze me how often I encounter vehicles practically begging to be stolen or broken into. You’ve probably run across them yourselves. Cars idling unattended, keys in the ignition, while the driver runs into a store “just for a minute” to pick up a pack of smokes or maybe even a couple of lottery tickets … now there’s a gamble with the potential for a costly outcome.

Another saddening sight, especially at this festive time is seeing cars in mall parking lots or at the curbside, with shopping bags, gift packages or even personal items like iPhones, purses and other goodies sitting on the seats, just waiting to be picked off by light-fingered looters.

That’s why Ontario’s Police Chiefs are warning motorists about the dangers of identity theft resulting from unlocked vehicles or the leaving of valuables in plain view during the launch of the Province’s annual Lock it OR Lose it Campaign. The campaign is a pro-active crime prevention program that encourages drivers to take precautions to protect their vehicles and vehicle contents from theft, particularly during the hectic holiday season. “ (Police) want motorists to be aware of the dangers involved in leaving vehicles unlocked or valuables in plain sight,” said Deputy Chief Andrew Fletcher of the Halton Regional Police Service, just west of Toronto. “We are especially concerned about the opportunity for identity theft resulting from the theft of unlocked vehicles or valuables.”

During the Lock it OR Lose it Campaign, police officers will be on the lookout for parked vehicles to confirm they are locked and that no valuables have been left visible. Officers place a small notice on vehicles checked indicating what safety precautions were neglected and offer simple prevention tips for drivers to protect their vehicles against theft. The notices also congratulate drivers who have secured their vehicle.

In addition to the possible loss of valuable seasonal purchases, Dubin urged motorists not to keep personal documents such as vehicle ownership, liability pink slips, credit card invoices, and passports in vehicles when unoccupied. Criminals look for such documents so they can assume identities, secure credit card accounts, and even take out a mortgage against victims’ property without their knowledge. Those unfortunate souls might not realize they’ve been victimized until it’s too late, costing them time and money to rectify the damage.

“The insurance industry remains a strong supporter of the Lock it OR Lose it Campaign. We know it works,” said Rick Dubin, Vice-President, Investigative Services, Insurance Bureau of Canada. “While we are seeing declines in auto theft, motorists should remain vigilant. Fewer motor vehicle thefts mean criminals look for new ways to commit crimes. Identity theft offers opportunities for criminal activities.”

The number of stolen vehicles has dropped dramatically recently, with 4,500 fewer motor vehicle thefts in 2012 than there were in 2011, and a 57 percent drop from a decade ago. Despite this positive trend, Ontario’s law enforcement leaders and our community partners are concerned that in 2012 there were 12,739 incidents of identity theft and identity fraud reported to police, a five percent increase over those reported in the previous year.

Something to think about as you prepare to hit the shopping centres this weekend.