Stolen vehicles

Two Prince George vehicles stolen while left to warm up

Feb 4, 2021 | 11:32 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — The Prince George RCMP is reminding drivers to take precautions with their vehicles during this cold weather snap.

This after police say two people had their cars stolen while leaving their vehicle running with their keys in the ignition in the past week.

On Jan. 27, police say a woman was in a parking lot on the 3000 block of Massey Drive shortly after 11:30 p.m. waiting for her own vehicle to warm up while sitting in a friend’s car.

“The idling vehicle was within eyesight of the owner, who watched as a male got out of a nearby pick-up truck, got into the idling vehicle and drove off,” says Cst. Jennifer Cooper.

“The vehicle was located the next morning crashed into a ditch. Police identified the 26-year-old Cheven Schlitt, and arrested him for possession of stolen property. The B.C. Prosecution Service approved one charge of possession of stolen property and released Schlitt on bail pending a further court date.”

She says the second incident occurred on Feb.3 shortly after midnight in a parking lot on the 1700 block of Queensway.

“An employee of a local business left his vehicle idling in a parking lot and within minutes, a female got into the vehicle and drove away. Thankfully, video surveillance caught the incident and frontline members located the vehicle a short distance away. Police arrested the driver, 34-year-old Nikita Teegee, for theft of a motor vehicle and held her for court in the morning.”

Cooper says both cases are examples of how quickly car-thieves work.

“With the drop in temperature comes the desire for drivers to warm up their vehicles before starting out. However, those without a remote start are at a disadvantage and feel the need to make the choice between a cold vehicle, or leaving their vehicle running with their keys in the ignition.”