Calgary police yesterday revealed that in 2016 they have responded to reports of 4,879 stolen vehicles - roughly 13 incidents a day. Authorities said that auto theft crimes in the previous year alarmingly increased by 51% over the five-year average.
Police released videos shot by HAWCS helicopters of reckless suspected car thieves. In the footage, the thieves drove their stolen vehicles into other cars, fences, and incoming traffic, barely missing police officers and pedestrians.
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“It’s a highly dangerous situation we find ourselves in almost daily - they’re driven in a very reckless manner putting us all at risk,” said Insp. Mike Bossley. “They’re not rational and you can see that by the type of driving [with which] these vehicles are being driven. It’s become very frustrating for us.”
Despite just a month passing since an awareness campaign meant to draw attention to the dangers of leaving cars running and unattended, 14 instances of the poor driving habit were recorded on January 11 alone, Bossley said. Officers last month came across 800 cars left running with the keys in the ignition.
“[The number of thefts is] absolutely straining our resources to investigate these offences, there’s no question,” Bossley told
Calgary Sun.
Bossley explained that the car thieves are often addicts of fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin, looking to make quick cash. He also pointed out that the stolen vehicles become accessories in even more serious crimes.
Calgary Police Association president Les Kaminski on Wednesday said that the police force should reallocate more resources into reducing vehicle thefts that led to police shootings. He suggested taking chronic offenders off the streets.
According to Bossley, the force has managed to considerably reduce the number of break and enters that are typically related to stolen autos.
“It’s absolutely something we should continue to evaluate and look at the most efficient way to do business,” he said.
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