The Whitecourt RCMP concluded a week-long campaign on Feb. 7, 2026, as part of Operation Cold Start, a provincial initiative aimed at reducing vehicle thefts in Whitecourt, Alberta. The annual operation focuses on educating drivers about the dangers of leaving their cars running and unattended during the winter.
From Feb. 1 to Feb. 7, officers conducted proactive patrols in residential areas, gas stations and convenience-store parking lots to check for unattended, idling vehicles — including whether keys had been left inside. According to the Alberta RCMP, approximately 25 per cent of vehicle thefts in Alberta involve vehicles left idling with keys in them. The RCMP warns stolen vehicles are frequently used to commit secondary crimes such as break-and-enters, drug trafficking or to flee from police.
During the patrols, officers spoke with residents and left educational materials on vehicles or nearby to remind owners how to protect their property. The Town of Whitecourt has made crime prevention a top priority for 2026 after a reported 40 per cent drop in property crime in late 2025; the town adopted its 2025 Strategic Plan, which identifies crime prevention as a core pillar for the year.
The provincial program is supported province-wide, with sponsorship from bodies such as the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, to increase public awareness of simple security steps. Police remind drivers that the easiest ways to prevent theft are to never leave keys in an idling vehicle and to always keep doors locked.
