| May 26, 2010 Auto Crime at a 14 Year Low in B.C. VICTORIA: Chilliwack MLA John Les spoke in the legislature today to applaud the efforts of local and provincial law enforcement agencies for their efforts to drastically reduce auto crime in British Columbia. “As a society, we depend on our vehicles. For most of us, buying a car or truck is the second largest purchase we will make. Understandably, falling victim to car crime can be upsetting, both financially and emotionally. “I am happy to say that auto crime is decreasing in British Columbia. Since 2003, vehicle-theft has decreased 58% in our province, and vehicle break-ins dropped 52% over the same period. In my constituency of Chilliwack we’ve seen an impressive 60% reduction from 2003. The Bait Car program that we worked hard to develop in BC has paid off in spades and is now being emulated across North America. “During the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with an influx of cars flooding the province and particularly the lower mainland, car theft was a real concern. Once again, our police forces rallied to ensure public safety and vehicle security. Armed with MicroDot DNA technology, bait cars were deployed making it easier for police to identify and recover stolen items. These cars were placed at all 22 Park and Ride locations, VANOC Parking lots and departure hubs, as well as games training and preparation centers. They increased surveillance, solicited the help of police dogs and traffic helicopters, and deployed undercover cars equipped with automatic license plate recognition technology which can scan up to 600 plates an hour to locate stolen vehicles. “Their efforts paid off and we not only celebrated a successful Olympics, but a 14 year low in vehicle theft incidents as well. A reduction in auto theft not only promotes the well-being and security of British Columbians, it also saves money by keeping insurance rates as low as possible. This long standing and reassuring trend will continue to keep British Columbians safe thanks to the hard work of our local law enforcement agencies.” -30- | |
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