Get ready for Operation Scrooge!

For the fourth year in a row Kings RCMP, with volunteers with the Kings Citizens on Patrol and Stetsons and Spurs youth group, will conduct information checkpoints at the County Fair Mall in New Minas, Wal-Mart parking lot and the town centre in Wolfville Sat., Dec 20.

Operation Scrooge consists of Stetsons and Spurs youths in uniform walking throughout the parking lots checking for cars that are unlocked or have packages in plain sight. If they find any they'll leave a card on the windshield reminding the driver it’s important to keep the doors locked and valuables out of sight.

RCMP spokesman Cst. Les Kakonyi says "the youth group will not be trying doors to see if they are unlocked, only looking."

Members of Citizens on Patrol and RCMP officers in patrol cars will watch for people checking out vehicles. When the group is ready to leave that location, cards that have not been picked up by drivers will be retrieved from the cars by the volunteers and police.

Dubbed "Operation Scrooge", this annual program is an effort to educate people about a truly "preventable crime," one which could spoils people’s Christmas if they become a victim of theft.

Several weeks ago over 25 unlocked vehicles were entered in the Aylesford area and numerous items were stolen from these vehicles. Several cars within Kings County in the past several months had the keys left in the ignitions and were left unattended by their owners.