Auto theft numbers down, police say

Calgary police say their strategy for combating auto theft isyielding results.

The seven-member High Enforcement Auto Theft Team (HEATT), whichis anundercover police unit that targets car thieves, has brought the total number of thefts in 2009 down by about 2,000 vehicles from the previous year.

"That strategy was developed for enforcement, education awareness and prevention and I think we're seeing the benefits," said Staff Sgt. Colin Adair. "A large part of that is due to the success that the HEATTis having."

Police said Ford trucks are the number one choice of thieves, accounting for about 12 per cent of the 4,300 vehicles stolen in the city last year.

"The biggest concern is that it's a large vehicle," said Adair. "Large vehicles can do a significant amount of damage."

557 Ford trucks were stolen from Calgarians last year, said Adair, adding that most of the trucks were stolen for joy riding, which puts the public at risk.

"They have total disregard for anybody," said Adair. "They don't own the vehicle, they don't insure it. If they damage the truck or car or if they ran into somebody else they simply flee and steal another one."

In December 2009, a man drove recklessly in a stolen Ford F350, failing to stop for police and smashing into another vehicle.

Weeks later, another thief driving a Ford F150, drove into and killed a 58-year-old woman.

Greg Eagleson, general manager of a Ford dealership in south Calgary, said older models are really easy to steal because almost all of themuse a regular key.

But Ford has recently upgraded its anti-theft systems, said Eagleson.

"All the new ones have a passive anti-theft [system]. It has a chip in the key and a chip in the steering column, so they've done that to deter [theft]," said Eagleson. "Within a year we'll be off the top of the list and it will be some new brand and something new."

Eagleson advises customers with older trucks to use anti-theft devices like The Club.