Area RCMP are encouraging snowmobile enthusiasts to be vigilant in securing sleds on their vehicles, and consider placing a special piece of equipment inside a vehicle to ensure sled safety.
It’s a time of year, say police, that sleds tend to get stolen.
“What’s happening, not as much here though there are some thefts here, but in areas when snowmobile enthusiasts predominantly congregate for a weekend, areas like Sicamous, Revelstoke or Golden,” said Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk.
“We see, just about every weekend, thefts of trucks with as many as five or six sleds as they’re on the truck or on a trailer.
“For convenience, a person will usually strap the machine to their vehicle. Then, individuals come along, back up to the truck and steal the sleds off the truck or off the trailer.”
Police encourage sledders to lock their machines with a cable lock to either their truck or to their trailer if they’re towing their machines.
As well, they should consider purchasing an immobilizer, an electronic device that shuts down a vehicle’s electrical system if there’s an attempt made to hot-wire a vehicle during a theft, or the ignition is damaged.
“Immobilizers do cost, you have to install them,” said Molendyk, adding that the devices are available at snowmobile dealerships or auto service centres.
