SURREY - Leaving your car to warm up unattended might not only get it stolen, but it can also land you an $81 fine.
Surrey RCMP's latest crime analyst reports reveal that in mid-November, five vehicles were stolen from one neighbourhood, and each were unlocked, had the key in the ignition and the engine running.In response, Surrey RCMP's crime reduction unit patrolled the same neighborhood earlier this month and within one hour found 13 unoccupied vehicles with their motors running.In some cases, the officers took the keys out of the ignition, knocked on the owners' front doors and gave their keys to them."In these instances the owners were completely unaware that police officers had even entered their vehicles," Cpl. Bert Paquet said. "Luckily, this time, the people entering their warm vehicles were nice police officers instead of thieves."It's a little known fact that leaving a vehicle unlocked is an offence under the Section 191(2)(a) of the Motor Vehicle Act and carries an $81 fine."Residents need to ensure they protect themselves and their property and never assume that thieves are not active in the early morning hours, no matter where they live."