Prince Albert police warn of spike in vehicle thefts

Prince Albert police are warning of an increase in vehicle thefts. Jasmine Pelletier tells us what's behind the jump, and what you can do to protect yourself.

The Prince Albert Police Service is warning residents about an increase in vehicle thefts, which it says are up compared to last year.

In Jan. 2025 there were 25 reported thefts while in Jan. 2026 there were 41.

The police service says vehicle thefts are more common in winter months.

“It’s, generally speaking, a crime of opportunity,” explained Insp. Scott Hayes.

“When the temperatures get lower, we see an increase in people warming up their vehicles. And unfortunately, leaving a vehicle unattended, for even seconds can result in these consequences.”

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The police service advises residents to make sure parked vehicles are locked, to completely close all windows and doors and not to leave the keys or valuables inside.

It also advises against leaving garage door openers visible inside a parked vehicle.

SGI Communications Consultant Michaela Solomon told CTV an average of 3,000 vehicle theft claims are made annually in the province. One third of the thefts occur in rural areas.

“When vehicles are stolen, they’re often used in the commission of other crimes,” said Solomon. “Especially, high speed, reckless driving situations. So, as vehicle owners, if we protect ourselves from theft, that’s a great way we can protect our community members as well.”

She added that the most stolen vehicle in Saskatchewan is the 2006 Ford F-350 crew cab, and in Prince Albert, it’s the 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 crew cab.

CAA Government Relations Director Elliott Silverstein says when someone notices their vehicle has been stolen, time is of the essence.

“If you notice your car stolen in a matter of minutes, there’s a greater likelihood that it can be spotted. If it happens overnight and you’re not aware for eight or 10 hours that the car has been stolen, it does make it harder.”

The Prince Albert Police Service says it is currently exploring an initiative to address vehicle thefts and fail to stop incidents.