Northwest Territories RCMP wish to remind the public not to leave their vehicles idling and unsecured during these cold winter months.
RCMP are asking vehicle owners to keep their keys or key fobs on them when allowing their vehicle to idle. It can take less than a minute to get in a vehicle and drive off.
Citizens are reminded to:
- Never leave a running vehicle unattended. If your keys must be in the ignition to warm it up, citizens should remain with their vehicle
- Install a remote starter if possible, however, always make sure the vehicle is locked
- Never leave children or pets unattended in a running vehicle
- Remove all valuables from the vehicle, (eg: loose change, mail, packages, GPS, garage door openers and cell phones)
- If your keys are stolen, immediately change the locks for the keys that have gone missing, including residences and vehicles
- Vehicles equipped with a keyless ignition can still be stolen if left running, even with the key fob removed from the vehicle