Police issue advisory about leaving unoccupied vehicles running

Oct 31, 2023 | 3:30 PM Pete McIntyre

Police are using a theft incident in the North Okanagan as a reminder about the risks of drivers leaving their vehicles unattended while idling.

On Monday, Oct. 30 around 8 a.m., police received a report of a pickup truck being stolen from outside a residence on Brickyard Road in Enderby.

The owner had left the vehicle running to warm up, unattended, with the keys in it when it was stolen.

The vehicle is a black, 2019 Dodge Ram with B.C. licence plate RC0 171 and it has yet to be recovered.

RCMP say with the weather getting colder and more drivers warming up their vehicles, the risk of thefts rises.

“Never leave a vehicle with the keys in it unattended,” Const. Chris Terleski of the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP said. “Thefts of vehicles and thefts from vehicles are predominately crimes of opportunity and it only takes a second for a thief to jump in and drive away.”

Terleski said if you’re going to warm your vehicle, stay in it, or use a remote starter with an immobilizer.

Anyone with information about the stolen pickup truck can contact the Enderby office of the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP at (250) 838-6818 and quote file #2023-6973.