A Grande Prairie, Alta., man is frustrated and worried after vandals targeted the 2004 Ford truck parked outside his home — six times, in less than a month. 

Kyle Hudgeon has lived five years in the Alberta community, about 390 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. With three vehicles regularly parked outside, he’s dealt with vandalism in the past but it’s been nothing like the uptick of vehicle damage that began on Jan. 27.

“Crime has really picked up in the area,” said Hudgeon, who said there were two break-ins and four attempts on the vehicle parked outside his home in the northwest part of the city.

“My family’s in this house and there’s people invading my private space and I worry.… It’s a little bit scary.”

The damage has also done a number on Hudgeon’s wallet.

“We’re right around that $2,500 mark right now with new door handles, two ignition cylinders, an upgraded alarm in the truck. Yeah, it’s not cheap.” 

And Hudgeon is not alone.

Increase vehicle thefts

There were 28 reported vehicle thefts in the city between Jan. 1 and Feb. 9 of this year, according to the RCMP and Grande Prairie Police Service. That marks a 47 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

“Most of those were cars that were left unlocked or with keys that were left in the ignition,” said Cpl. Matthew Howell, spokesperson for Alberta RCMP.

He said the cold weather early this year caused more people to leave their vehicles running to warm them up, making theft easier for opportunistic criminals.

Most of the vehicles taken — approximately 70 per cent — were pickup trucks, said Howell. According to insurance industry statistics, the top 10 list of most frequently stolen vehicles in Alberta includes four models of passenger trucks. 

Truck owners feel the impact

Samuel Cantada learned about the risks of leaving his vehicle running the hard way. 

On Feb. 19, he and his wife were heading on a Caribbean vacation. At about 2:45 a.m., he left his truck running with the keys inside before being driven to the Grande Prairie Airport.

“I got to my house door, grabbed the luggage and my friend said ‘Someone jumped into your truck.’ I thought he was kidding,” Cantada told CBC over a video call from a cruise ship near the Dominican Republic.

Cantada said his vehicle was recovered, with no significant damage, the next day in Dawson Creek, B.C., 130 kilometres northwest of Grande Prairie.

Later that same morning, someone tried to steal Colin Skolly’s pickup truck from outside his home in northeastern Grande Prairie. 

“I didn’t know mine happened, though, until the afternoon when I went to clear my driveway,” said Skolly, who works nights as a coil tubing supervisor.

He noticed footprints around his 2007 F-350. Upon further inspection, he discovered the door handle was busted, paint was scratched and the ignition had been broken.

Skolly said the truck hadn’t been driven in over a month. Its block heater wasn’t plugged in and the engine didn’t start, foiling the would-be thieves.

Skolly, who has lived in Grande Prairie for 17 years, said he was a little surprised.

“But at the same time, this is probably the fifth time that [someone has] tried to steal that truck in the 10 years I’ve owned it.”

Preventing theft

RCMP are advising people to lock vehicle doors when not in use, park in well-lit visible areas and take other safety precautions.

Cantada echoed the advice.

“We have to be careful,” he said. “Don’t put your keys in your vehicle, make sure if you have a command start … the only time you have to put your key in is when you’re leaving, that’s it. And make sure there’s no important belongings inside.”

Although he’s confident his truck will be difficult to steal due to the safety measures he’s installed, Hudgeon remains frustrated.

“Honestly, I’m expecting more,” Hudgeon said. “There’s like there’s no end in sight, in my opinion.”