KEYS TO STOP THEFT
SGI looking into penalties
Saskatoon police Chief Clive Weighill says it would be “very worthwhile” for Saskatchewan Government Insurance to look into penalizing drivers whose vehicles are stolen because the keys or fobs were left inside.
Under existing rules, people who submit claims for stolen vehicles are asked where their keys were at the time of the theft, but all vehicle thefts are covered for insurance purposes under accidental loss or damage, regardless of where the keys were.
Weighill said if drivers face a fine or higher insurance premiums for claiming stolen vehicles that had keys left inside, it could discourage them from keeping keys in their cars.
“There is a reality that’s happening right now, right across Saskatchewan, about vehicle theft and unfortunately one of the main drivers is that keys are being left in the vehicle. And we’ve tried education both through the police service and through SGI and it hasn’t seemed to resonate yet,” he said.
“Yes, people do accidentally leave their keys in the vehicle, we understand that, but it’s one of the main contributors right now for the amount of vehicle thefts that we’re seeing.”
SGI does not keep data on how many stolen vehicles had keys left inside them. In Saskatoon, 60 to 65 per cent of stolen vehicles had the key or key fob inside, Weighill said.
Stolen vehicles have become a significant concern in the city. Offenders steal vehicles and use them to commit crimes or go on joyrides. Big trucks are often targeted because they are hard to stop and can be used to ram other vehicles.
Sanctions for drivers leaving their keys in vehicles is not unheard of — vehicle owners face fines for that in British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories.
The Saskatchewan government would need to pass legislation to allow for a similar penalty.
FATAL MISTAKE
Four people in Saskatoon have died in the last three years because keys were left in vehicles that were subsequently stolen.
May 5, 2014: Bethlehem High School students J.P. Haughey and Sarah Wensley were on 22nd Street on their way to track and field practice when their car was struck by a stolen truck speeding away from police. The two 17-year-olds died instantly and a 16-year-old girl in their vehicle was seriously injured. The driver of the stolen truck, Cheyann Crystal Peeteetuce, received a six-year sentence for her role in the fatal crash.
Oct. 23, 2016: 21-year-old Jordan Bruce Lafond was the passenger in a stolen truck that struck a fence on the north side of the building that houses Shaw Centre, Bethlehem High School and Tommy Douglas Collegiate after a police chase. He was arrested and taken to hospital, where he died. The driver of the stolen truck, 20-year-old Reece Terrance Fiddler, is charged with nearly two-dozen offences including dangerous driving causing death, evading police causing death and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. His charges are still before the courts.
June 19, 2017: 22-year-old Austin Eaglechief had just hopped out of a stolen truck when a police car showed up. He and another man jumped back into the vehicle and sped away. Eaglechief was behind the wheel and truck was going about 150 kilometres an hour when it collided head-on with another truck at Circle Drive and Airport Drive. Eaglechief died at the scene. The 33-year-old passenger was taken to hospital and later was arrested on multiple outstanding warrants. The driver of the other truck was not injured.