Stolen trucks being used for more crimes in Regina

It isn’t just about the trucks when they’re stolen in Regina these days, they’re often being used for other crimes, according to Regina’s police chief.

Twenty years ago, according to Chief Evan Bray, thousands of vehicles were being stolen every year. He explained it was often younger kids who were stealing the cars and then joyriding.

But these days, Bray said the vehicles are being used in the commission of other crimes.

Recently, the Regina Police Service announced that Ford F-series vehicles are the most stolen vehicles in the city.

“They are bigger vehicles. They have been used, in some cases, to smash through the front of a business to try and gain entry in order to steal items from the business,” said Bray.

Bray said they’re also used to haul larger stolen items, often in thefts from compounds.

The trucks can be a risk to public safety as well according to Bray, as they’ve been used to hit other vehicles on the road and even police vehicles.

As with other crime in Regina, Bray believes drug use and addiction are driving vehicle thefts.

“We’re seeing a lot of our vehicles that are stolen, and in times when we’re encountering people driving a stolen vehicle, we attempt to make a traffic stop, we are finding that they are either high on some sort of a drug, and/or a combination of alcohol,” said Bray.

Bray said helping drug addicts get better is a big part of reducing crime in the city.

He also mentioned owners taking their keys out of the vehicle is also part of it.