There's never a good time for someone to have their vehicle broken into, but it's especially upsetting during the holidays when many people might have newly purchased or received gifts sitting in their cars.
That's why the Abbotsford Police have provided a list of tips that people can use to help ensure that they're not the victim of some auto theft this holiday season.
The list of tips includes:
• Ensuring that the vehicle is locked every time that it is left unattended
• Hiding valuables so that they can't be seen from outside of the vehicle
• Parking in well-lit and populated areas
By following these tips, locals can better protect themselves against the significant number of vehicle break-ins that occur each year throughout B.C.
According to a report from ICBC, a total of more than 46,000 vehicles were broken into in 2020, with vehicles made before 2007 being particularly vulnerable to thieves due to weaker security measures.
Among the list of items that are most frequently stolen from vehicles, smartphones, personal electronics like tablets and laptops, and work tools were the three most common.
Data from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General revealed that while auto theft is still a significant problem throughout the province, Abbotsford has experienced a slight decline in these instances in recent years.
In 2022, the city had 437 motor vehicle thefts, which is 55 fewer incidents than in 2021 and 2020 and is actually the lowest number of motor vehicle theft offences in Abbotsford since 2013.
