Manitoba Public Insurer (MPI) is reporting that there has been a sharp increase in car thefts as a result of thieves getting their hands on the owners’ keys. The insurer is partnering with CAA Manitoba and 59 Citizens on Patrol groups to remind people to keep their keys safe.
“Don't help thieves steal your vehicle,” the campaign urges residents.
Gord Mackintosh, the Justice Minister who is also responsible for MPI, said that in the past decade, auto thefts have gone down 85% in Winnipeg. But, thefts that occur due to owners leaving their keys inside the vehicle are increasing. More than 400 vehicles were reported stolen last spring, and of these, 75% used the owners’ keys. Compared to the same period in 2014, this is an 11% increase, says MPI data.
Mackintosh said that, overall, auto thefts have decreased substantially over the past ten years because over two-thirds of all cars in the province have immobilizers.
“The immobilizers work by preventing a vehicle from being started without the key or without a key fob,” he said. “Immobilizers don't work when the key is in the vehicle. The vehicle will get stolen, of course.”
The province is not looking to penalize owners who leave their keys inside the vehicle, Mackintosh said, as having their vehicle stolen is a penalty in itself.
Even during really cold winters there is no reason to leave the car running unattended with the keys inside to keep it warm.
“New cars, especially cars made in the last six or seven years, really do only need three to four minutes to warm up to make sure all the components of your car are running smoothly and that your car is functioning properly,” said Liz Kulyk of CAA. “If you're letting your car warm up for 10 or 15 minutes, the only thing you're doing is wasting a lot of gas.”
