An act of kindness left a St. Albert woman open to a crime of opportunity this week.

Renee Arcand was driving on Hebert Road on Monday morning when she saw a car swerve out of control and cross the median.

She stopped, turned her engine off and ran over to help. While she was distracted, a thief climbed behind the wheel of her SUV, started it up and drove away.

It won't change how I feel. I'll still help people. - Renee Arcand

"I was in complete shock," she said. "I thought it was a joke at first."

Arcand saw the car lose control while she was on her way to pick her son up from school. She feared the driver might have had a heart attack.

She left her keys, purse and some groceries in her SUV while she went to help. It turned out the man, who looked to be in his 60s, was a diabetic with low blood sugar.

After helping him as best she could, Arcand called the Alberta Motor Association for a tow truck. Then she turned to go back to her vehicle, thinking she would get some yogurt for the man.

"I could see it driving down the street," she said. "But it was already too far gone, and I couldn't go after them."

She called the RCMP and an officer showed up quickly.

Arcand quickly phoned to cancel her credit cards. Police told her later the car thief had already used one card at a local store

Cpl. Laurel Kading said police are looking into the possibility that closed circuit TV cameras in the store might help them track the thief.

The stolen SUV is a grey 2012 Infiniti QX56. (Supplied) So far, there's no sign of the grey 2012 Infiniti QX56.

Arcand, who has lived in St. Albert all her life, said she never felt unsafe before. But knowing the car thief had her ID and house keys forced her to change the locks at her house.

"It breaks my heart that there are people out there who are looking for the opportunity to do something like that," she said. "It won't change how I feel. I'll still help people."