As Albertans get ready for another cold snap this winter, Équité Association and the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP) are warning people to be aware of warm-up thefts through Operational Cold Start.

Operational Cold Start is a provincial education campaign to bring awareness to drivers in Alberta around warm-up thefts. Warm-up thefts occur when drivers attempt to pre-warm their vehicle by starting it then returning to their residence to continue getting ready for the day. These conditions allow criminals to steal a vehicle in a matter of seconds.

Throughout the campaign, officers will patrol for unattended, idling vehicles to provide on-the-spot education to owners. By identifying risks like unlocked doors and keys left in the ignition, this initiative helps drivers secure their vehicles and prevents opportunistic theft from impacting Alberta families.

Additionally, older or pre-owned vehicles are frequently targeted for theft. For example, three of the top five most stolen vehicles in Alberta in 2024 were made in 2006 and 2007. Pre-owned vehicles may not have the updated anti-theft technology necessary to deter warm-up thefts.

New residents of Alberta may be unfamiliar with the risks associated with extreme cold and how it impacts vehicle security.

To help reduce auto theft, Équité and the AACP have put together these top tips:

• Don’t leave your vehicle unattended, unlocked and/or have keys in the ignition.
• Don’t leave a running vehicle unattended
• Never leave children or pets inside a vehicle
• Keep your vehicle locked at all times
• Use a heating pad for the engine to avoid needing to warm up a car.
• Use a steering wheel lock and an accelerator pedal lock to add an extra layer of protection to your vehicle.

On behalf of the property and casualty industry, Équité partners with law enforcement, government and decision-makers to protect Canadians from insurance crime and fraud.

To anonymously report information about insurance crime by phone, please call Crime Stoppers (available 24/7) at 1-800-222-TIPS.

‍