Hundreds of vehicle thefts may have been prevented over the last six months had owners carried out a simple preventative measure, said the Vice-President of Public Affairs of Manitoba Public Insurance.

Of 3,000 stolen recovered vehicles examined by Manitoba Public Insurance, nearly 15 per cent of these vehicles had an unused steering wheel locking device left on the floor, backseat or trunk, said John Douglas.

"It's really a mystery why people don't use their steering wheel locking device," said Douglas. "They take the time to buy one and actually put it into their vehicle, but they don't take the few seconds to use it."

Losing a vehicle to theft would be no way to celebrate the Labour Day holiday weekend, said Douglas. "Auto theft is a crime of opportunity. If you eliminate the opportunity, you can reduce the crime."

A dubious one-day record was established last month after nine, unused steering wheel-locking devices were found in 35 stolen recovered vehicles.

The steering wheel locking device serves as an effective deterrent to auto thieves and is recommended as one option to combat auto theft, said Douglas.

"Auto theft statistics show that the passive immobilizer - a device which shuts down key vehicle systems to prevent theft -- is the most effective tool against this crime," said Douglas. "But auto thieves have also told us that steering wheel locking devices frequently are deterrents to theft.'

Last year in Manitoba, auto theft cost Manitoba Public Insurance ratepayers nearly $24 million. In addition to the economic costs, the human toll was also disturbing: eight people killed and more than 100 injured over the last two years in this province.