Preventing Vehicle Theft

08 June 2022

We have seen a marked increase (48 per cent) in vehicle thefts across Durham Region. From January – May last year (2021) there were 215 vehicles stolen in the Region. This year, we have already received reports of 318 thefts of vehicles over the same time period.

This mirrors a trend seen across the Greater Toronto Area. 

While there is no guaranteed prevention against vehicle theft, you can take the following precautions:

  • Always park in a well-lit area and or locked garage;
  • Never leave an unattended vehicle running with keys inside;
  • Consider anti-theft devices such as steering wheel lock or collar;
  • Never hide a spare key inside your vehicle or outside your home;
  • When not in use, place your key fob inside a radio frequency shielding pouch (Faraday Bag) to block cell signals;
  • Never place or hang or leave keys directly inside the front door or near windows;
  • Consider placing keys on your bedside table, as long as it’s not near a window. The key fob can also be activated as an alert alarm, if you hear or see suspicious activity outside your home at night.

If you would like a complimentary Faraday Bag, please visit Cst Rice at the Central West Community Fun Day on June 12 from 10am to 2pm at Regional HQ in Whitby (605 Rossland Road East): https://www.drps.ca/news/central-west-division-community-fun-day/

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