antitheftICBC road safety coordinator Mike Weightman says auto theft numbers in Chilliwack have doubled compared to a year ago.

Weightman says many of the stolen vehicles are the usual suspects like older model Hondas, Toyotas, Nissans, and some Ford F-250s and 350s.

However he says they’ve also seen thieves stealing newer vehicles because they’re getting people’s keys.

“Keys are stolen from leisure centres or rec centres, or sometimes people just leave their keys on the table in a public place. So we’re seeing a lot of key driven stolen vehicles around as well.”

Weightman says the community policing office will have officers out in high crime areas handing out free anti-theft devices to anyone who owns a prime target vehicle.