From Jan. 20 to 24, 2025, the Ponoka RCMP participated in Operation Cold Start, a province-wide initiative aimed at reducing the theft of idling vehicles during cold winter conditions.
During the week-long campaign, officers checked unattended, idling vehicles within the community to determine whether keys were left inside and if the vehicles were properly secured.
"This provided an opportunity for officers to engage with residents and educate them on best practices to prevent vehicle theft in winter," stated a release.
Over the course of the campaign, Ponoka RCMP found:
• 2 unlocked vehicles left idling with keys in the ignition.
• 0 locked vehicles left idling with keys in the ignition.
In total, officers engaged with 10 vehicle owners and handed out 11 information pamphlets to help educate residents about safeguarding their vehicles during the winter months.