Theft of ATV/UTVs on the rise in Fort St John and area

On Wednesday, October 12, at 12:16pm, the Fort St John RCMP received a report of a theft of trailer with two quads on it.  This theft occurred in broad daylight.

The Fort St John RCMP has noticed a significant increase in ATV/UTV thefts during the past 6 weeks.  These thefts have occurred inside the boundaries of Fort St John but also in the rural areas with multiple thefts of UTV's in the Charlie Lake area.

In numerous files, thieves have been able to steal the ATV/UTV while stored on trailers.

The Fort St John RCMP is asking the public to take proactive steps to secure and protect their ATV/UTV and trailers by:

• insuring your ATV/UTV,
• removing a necessary fuse, install a "kill switch" or remove the battery,
• removing the keys from the ignition and keeping them in a different location than the UTV,
• removing them from trailers and securing them in a garage or shed, somewhere out of sight,
• securing trailers with trailer hitch locks and even chaining them to large trees or something heavy or immobile,
• storing them behind a fence with a locked gate,
• parking strategically to block trailers with other vehicles to ensure they cannot be accessed.

"It is likely that these thefts are being conducted by a group of organized and experienced thieves", said Constable Chad Neustaeter, Media Relations Officer for the Fort St John RCMP.  "Public awareness and education can help owners protect their property, removing the temptation and preventing opportunities for thieves to continue stealing ATV/UTVs."

Fall is a time when ATV/UTVs see increased use, being utilized for family adventure as well as hunting purposes.  In the event your ATV/UTV or trailer is stolen:

• call police and make a report,
• provide an accurate vehicle description including a photo, make, model and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number),
• describe any unique features or after market parts on your machine
• provide applicable license plate numbers.

The Fort St John RCMP Crime Reduction Unit is prioritizing the ATV/UTV thefts and investigating potential suspects.

The Fort St John RCMP continues to investigate and is asking anyone who may have additional information about these incidents, to please contact the Fort St John RCMP at 250-787-8100 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca.