English
A routine evening turned into a harrowing experience for 9-year-old Alexis Delorme after her father’s vehicle was stolen while she was still inside. The incident occurred on Monday night in Calgary’s McKenzie Lake community.
Joe Delorme had momentarily left his Saturn Vue running and unlocked in the driveway while retrieving a bag of laundry from inside the house. In just 10 seconds, an unknown woman jumped into the vehicle and drove away, with Alexis still in the backseat.
Alexis recalled feeling “scared and confused” during the ordeal. “She [the thief] was quiet,” Alexis said. “She cut off a car and said, ‘Sorry, sorry.’ I think she might have been talking to someone on the phone.”
Quick Police Response
Calgary police were alerted immediately, and officers located the vehicle within minutes in the nearby Sundance community. The suspect abandoned the Saturn, leaving Alexis unharmed before escaping in another vehicle, described by Alexis as a black car with tinted windows.
Alexis’s Quick Thinking
Despite her fear, Alexis took precautions to stay safe. She moved to the front seat, locked the doors, and waved at passersby for help. On her third attempt, a driver stopped and helped Alexis contact her father.
Joe Delorme expressed relief upon hearing from his daughter but also described the ordeal as physically and emotionally overwhelming. “It made me sicker,” he said. “I puked my guts up, but it was a relief at the same time.”
A Sobering Warning
Delorme emphasized the importance of never leaving vehicles unlocked or running, especially with children inside. “It’s a very scary situation that I don’t want anybody else to go through,” he said.
Stephanie Matchem, Delorme’s girlfriend, expressed gratitude for the quick resolution but warned that such incidents can happen anywhere. “You think you’re in a good neighbourhood, but it can happen anywhere,” she said.
Investigation Ongoing
Calgary police continue their investigation, seeking dash-cam footage from the evening of Dec. 9 to track the suspect’s movements. They urge anyone with information to come forward by contacting police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Authorities remind the public that vehicle thefts are often crimes of opportunity, urging drivers to lock their cars and avoid leaving them running unattended.
