Car thieves go on crime spree in Scarborough
Auto theft has been an ongoing problem in the greater Toronto area but a recent jump in vehicles being stolen in Scarborough has caused Toronto Police to issue a public safety alert.
More than 50 vehicles have been stolen in Scarborough over the past month. Thirty of those thefts happened over the past nine days in many neighbourhoods close to Hwy 401.
“We know it's a problem across the GTA but it comes in spurts in different divisions," Detective Sergeant Jesse VanNest with Toronto Police told CTV News Toronto Friday.
Police said thieves have been targeting late model Lexus RX 350s, Toyota SUVs and Honda CR-Vs.
Police released security videos of several of the recent thefts from driveways to show just how easily and quickly vehicles are stolen while people sleep.
Criminals are using devices to reprogram key fobs to override a vehicle’s onboard computer system
“What they do is they put a signal to a new fob to circumvent the system and get the computer to talk to their key fob. It can be done in about 7 minutes,” VanNest said.
Claudia, who requested her surname not be published, said her family’s Ford F-150 pick-up truck was stolen last week from the Casino Woodbine parking lot in Toronto.
Along with losing the truck the family said they lost expensive phones, child strollers and camping equipment.
“My mind is blown. I can't believe it was so easy to steal this 2018 big blue truck and that it could be taken so easily,” Claudia said.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada says auto theft is a growing problem right across Canada.
“Many of these vehicles are shipped overseas and many are re-vinned (VIN’s changed) and sold to unsuspecting buyers right across the country," Rob de Pruis with the Insurance Bureau of Canada told CTV News Toronto.
To try and prevent vehicles being stolen park in the garage, use a secondary alarm system and cover the vehicle identification number (vin) located on the dashboard at bottom the of the windshield.
Police also said you could add a tracking device to your vehicle and avoid leaving key fobs near the front door of your residence.
While these things can help, there is still no guarantee thieves won't be able to get into your vehicle.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6891972.1725643731!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Woman who was denied a liver transplant, after review highlighted alcohol use, has died
Questions are being raised about the case of a 36-year-old Ontario woman who died of liver failure after she was rejected for a life-saving liver transplant after a medical review highlighted her prior alcohol use.
Ontario's first domestic case of human rabies since 1967 confirmed in Brant County
A Brant County resident is in hospital after they tested positive for rabies.
Teen girl charged with attempted murder after student set on fire at Saskatoon high school
A 14-year-old girl faces an attempted murder charge after a 15-year-old girl was doused in a flammable substance and set on fire at a Saskatoon high school Thursday.
A Canadian airline is changing its check-in deadline for all flights. Here's why
Travellers will have to check in 15 minutes earlier than usual according to Air Canada's new cutoff time for all flights.
Judge delays Donald Trump's sentencing in hush money case until after November election
A judge agreed Friday to postpone Donald Trump's sentencing in his hush money case until after the November election.
Federal government's new hybrid work rules begin Monday: Here's what you need to know
Starting Monday, Sept. 9, federal employees in the core public administration will be required to be in the office a minimum of three days a week, and executives will need to be on-site a minimum of four days a week.
Teen charged in Georgia school shooting and his father to stay in custody after hearings
The 14-year-old suspect in a shooting at a Georgia high school that killed four people and his father will both stay in custody following back-to-back court hearings Friday morning where their lawyers declined to seek bail.
Sérgio Mendes, Brazilian singer and pop artist, dead at 83
Sérgio Mendes, a singer and composer who helped popularize the bossa nova music of his native Brazil, died Thursday in Los Angeles, his family shared in a statement with CNN.
Walz says Gaza demonstrators are protesting for 'all the right reasons' while condemning Hamas
Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz said Thursday that those protesting American support for Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza are doing so for 'all the right reasons,' as the Democratic ticket looks to balance its support for Israel with the humanitarian plight of civilians in the war-torn enclave.