Warman RCMP officers are advising Christmas shoppers to ensure their vehicles are locked when unattended in store parking lots.

They’re also strongly suggesting that valuables and parcels be stored in the vehicle’s trunk or otherwise kept out of sight.

In a report to the Warman City Council committee of the whole meeting on Monday, December 6, Warman RCMP Staff Sergeant Barry Thomas said police patrols are providing friendly reminders in the form of windshield tags on unlocked vehicles.

“Lock it or lose it is the message we want to get across to people,” said Thomas. “The weeks leading up to Christmas are a time when we see more thefts from unlocked vehicles.

“For thieves, it’s a crime of opportunity.”

Thomas said November saw eight reported incidents of theft under $5,000 in the City of Warman. Police are currently investigating those incidents and no charges have yet be laid.

There were seven reported incidents of mischief in Warman in November. Three of those have been cleared without charges laid, while the others are still under investigation.

There were five incidents of fraud or identity theft. No charges have yet been laid in those incidents.

A total of four criminal code traffic violations were reported, and three drivers were charged, including one for impaired driving, one for driving while disqualified, and one for a roadside suspension.

There were 66 provincial traffic violations reported and 49 people were charged in those incidents. The violations included speeding (five incidents) and seat belt infractions (one incident). While there were just two intersection-related traffic violations reported in November, there were 39 drivers charged under that category in November as a result of ongoing investigations into incidents earlier this fall.