Vehicle thefts are down across the province thanks, in part, to the bait car program, according to ICBC.

Since 2003, auto theft has dropped by 73 per cent in B.C. and in 2012 there was a seven per cent decrease in auto thefts reported to ICBC compared to the previous year.

In Delta, there were 67 per cent fewer vehicle thefts and 63 per cent fewer break-ins in 2012 compared to 2003 when the bait car program was introduced in B.C.

Vehicle thefts and break-ins are some of the more preventable crimes.

"We're constantly reminding citizens to lock their cars," said Delta police spokesperson Const. Ciaran Feenan. "If you leave your car open, you're going to be a victim at some time."

Feenan also said many residents continue to leave valuables - wallets, purses, electronics, loose change - in full view. He said the some of the most important measures people can take to deter auto crime is to lock your vehicle, leave nothing in sight and to take any valuables with you.

ICBC recently announced an expansion of the bait car program to include bait property.

"The IMPACT (Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team) program has been wildly successful over the last 10 years," said Minster of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond,. "I am confident that the bait property program will be equally as successful as our bait vehicle program."

The shift in focus from IMPACT comes as police analyzed statistics from 2012. In the last four months of the year, police across B.C. identified a slight increase in thefts from vehicles.

"Thieves already know, that if they steal a bait car, they'll go to jail," said RCMP Inspector Gary Shinkaruk of IMPACT.

"With the kind of evidence we're able to put before judges, the program has been tremendously successful at putting car thieves behind bars. But there's a new message we need to get out to thieves now - steal from a bait car, go to jail."

jkerr@delta-optimist.com