Since June, there have been 3 incidents in Saskatoon where a vehicle was stolen with a child inside. Luckily, in each case the child was later found safe. Saskatoon Police Chief Troy Cooper says theft of a vehicle where the keys are left inside is a crime of opportunity. His message to the public is that when people steal vehicles it can be extremely dangerous. Officers spot the stolen vehicle and then the suspect tries to evade them. It’s dangerous for the suspects, for the police and for the public, so he urges everyone to keep the keys away from the car. You might think that winter is the most prevalent season for crimes of opportunity like vehicle thefts, because of cars left running, but Chief Cooper says summer is actually when they have the most reported property crime, because that’s when most people are out and about. In the winter, everyone is trying to keep warm inside, including the would-be thieves. Cooper adds that with people spending time outside in the summer, they hear and see more, so more crimes are reported as well. There are fewer open area robberies and vehicle thefts and fewer crimes involving youth in the winter. With the youths, Cooper says, it’s also because most of them are back to school. He expects there will be a spike in theft around the Christmas shopping season, so you will notice more publicity about prevention during that time and more officers in shopping areas.