Ahh, summer!

The heat, the relaxation, the vacation time, and, of course, the crime.

Hold on a second?  The crime?  

The RCMP in Alberta say criminals love the summer too with thefts of, and from, vehicles rising during the summer and thieves also taking advantage of people who leave equipment and tools from summertime projects lying around.

The Alberta RCMP is spotlighting common crimes taking place in detachment areas around the province this summer and are hoping to help Albertans keep themselves and their property safe through #HotSpotSummerAB. The campaign encourages people to follow RCMP social media channels to be able to see what crime types are commonly taking place in their area and get tips on the ways they might deter would-be thieves.

 
Through the Alberta RCMP App, individuals can explore the interactive crime map. The crime map indexes reports of crime and highlights what types of crimes have taken place. The police say reporting crimes is important as the reports tell them where crime hotspots are and influence future patrols and policing initiatives.

 Albertans can report all crimes through the Online Crime Reporting platform or to their local detachment.  

So far this year, RCMP have noted an increase in auto thefts in the Blackfalds, Fort Vermilion, High River and Vegreville detachment areas.  Police are tailoring their approach to include targeted patrols in these areas. They advise you to ensure your vehicle is locked with the keys removed from the ignition, even if you're only planning to be away from it for as little as 30 seconds

Theft from motor vehicles has been a common occurrence in Brooks, Edson, Killam, Ponoka and other detachments in Alberta this year.  Mounties are asking everyone to work with them to prevent these thefts and deter would-be criminals.  Always remove all valuables from inside your car including wallets, change, sunglasses and keys

Leaving things like tools and toys around your yard makes it easy for thieves to take what they want. An increase in theft under $5,000 is being reported this year in the Cold Lake, Hanna, Leduc and Valleyview detachments.  Everyone doing outside projects is asked to be mindful of what they leave outside that might attract thieves passing by.  

You can follow the RCMP on Twitter or Facebook or download the Alberta RCMP App to learn more about the hot spots in your detachment area and how to protect yourself and your property this summer.  

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