Mission RCMP and ICBC teamed up last week to host Operation Pop Up, an interactive presentation to help teach people to protect themselves from auto theft.
The event took place August 19 at the Junction Mall.
Total theft of, and theft from, vehicles has been on the increase in Mission so the object of the event was to create an education and awareness campaign with activities aimed to reduce the incidents of total theft and theft from vehicles in the area.
Crime Prevention Volunteers performed parking lot audits and held a “spot the target” event. Spot the target is an interactive game where the public has to spot and note at least eight items that would entice a thief to break into the car.
Registered owners of vehicles that have been identified as high risk to be stolen were provided with a free steering wheel lock.
The most common vehicles stolen in the Mission area include:
1996 Geo Tracker
1997 Toyota Corolla
1991 Toyota 4runner
1998, 2000 Honda Civic
1991, 1992 Honda Accord
1998, 2001 Dodge Ram
1993, 1997 Dakota
1994, 1995 Dodge/Plymouth Caravan/Voyager