The Swift Current City RCMP are hoping to curb a recent car shopping trend.

Since the start of July, the City RCMP has fielded 15 complaints tied to thefts from vehicles. That figure is extremely high when compared to the zero reports in July of 2021.

Ten of those reports have been linked to the recently arrested Lance Hilmoe.

Evan Gordon, the staff sergeant for the Swift Current City RCMP, said aside from the crimes Hilmoe allegedly carried out, it's common for the odd car shopping incident to occur.

"All it takes is one motivated or dedicated person to focus on something like this to really increase the number of crimes and victims and have a fairly wide-reaching effect in a community such as this," he said.  

Swift Current's northwest and northeast portions of the City have fallen victim to this crime the most according to the City RCMP. With every theft being reported from a vehicle left unlocked. 

"I don't want to say that it never happens but it is exceedingly rare for us to respond to a theft from a vehicle, and find that a locked vehicle has been entered via a broken window or force," he said.    

Other tips Gordon suggested include removing items of value (phones, sunglasses, GPS, and money) from vehicles at night time and to park in well-lit areas or in a garage. 

"They're called crimes of opportunity for a reason, not very often are these acts targeted," he explained. "[Where] regardless of what you do the person is going to try and get into your vehicle. If you make it difficult for them, more often than not they're going to move along."

The City RCMP are asking anyone that's had valuables stolen from their vehicle recently to contact them to see if the items have been recovered.