Ford pickup owners warned after sharp rise in Okanagan thefts

PENTICTON – RCMP are cautioning residents after a rising number of pickup truck thefts in Penticton and Kelowna.

Penticton RCMP spokesperson Const. James Grandy said in a press release issued today, Feb. 28, police are informing the public following a number of thefts involving Ford F-series pickup trucks over the past month.

Between Jan. 28 and Feb. 24 there have been 17 theft or attempted theft of these types of trucks in the Penticton area, Grandy said, while the Kelowna area has recorded 25 Ford pickup thefts since Jan. 8 and six attempted thefts.

“These types of vehicles have typically been a target for vehicle thieves, however, recently we’ve seen a significant increase," Grandy said in the release. "We’re hoping that by advising people who may own such a vehicle, they can take extra precautions when securing them."

Ford F-series pickups made up nine of the top 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada in 2018, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Half the vehicles stolen in British Columbia in 2016 were pickup trucks, and 1,200 of those were Ford F-series pickups.

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