The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP is urging residents to take the wheel in preventing auto crime. 

Vehicle owners are the first line of defence in guarding against vehicle theft and break-ins, the RCMP said in a media release Wednesday. 

Last year, more than 450 thefts from vehicles and 200 vehicle thefts were reported to police in the North Okanagan. The RCMP has ongoing efforts such as a bait car program, #9PMRoutine and Lock-Out Auto Crime, but says the fight against auto crime requires partnership with owners. 

"Overall, auto theft incidents are trending down but it's still an issue in our communities," said Const. Chris Terleski, media relations officer. "The first line of defence against auto crime is owners. Auto crime is predominately about opportunity. Don't tempt thieves and don't make yourself an easy target."

To prevent auto crime, the RCMP has come up with a theme called RETHINK:

R - Remove valuables

E - Eliminate opportunities for thieves

T - Track your car with GPS technology

H - Hide your key signal

I - Invest in anti-theft devices

N - Never idle unattended

K - Keep track of your keys

"These simple steps can have a significant impact," said Terleski. "Preventing auto crime is everyone鈥檚 responsibility and we need to work together to combat it."

For more information about preventing auto crime, visit the or