Canada is facing an alarming “epidemic” that has been getting worse for years, but in this case the warning came neither from its doctors nor the country’s Department of Health. It was the Toronto Police who issued the notice. And given what the statistics reflect, they have good reason: It’s not a virus or an infectious disease that worries agents, but vehicle thefts, including those committed with guns and trespassing.

The problem is becoming so alarming that the local police decided to give their neighbors some strange advice: make it easy for the thieves and leave the keys at the door of the house in plain view of any thieves who break in.

This proposal certainly created a stir; But it brings visibility to a problem so alarming that Toronto Police Station doesn’t hesitate to describe it with the term pandemic repercussions: for them, vehicle thefts and break-ins in the city are already an “epidemic.”

Make it easy for the thief. It may seem strange, but that’s the advice Toronto Police recently gave to neighbors: If a burglar breaks into their home and steals their vehicle, the best thing officers can do is make it easier for them. Have them find the keychain as quickly as possible. This was stated by officer Marco Ricciardi during a conversation with residents of Etobicoke, one of the districts of the Canadian metropolis in the province of Ontario.

“They have guns but they are not toys”. “Let people leave their vehicle keys in the Faraday bag by the front door,” Riccardi encouraged. His advice leaves two ideas floating around. First, it is optimal to put the keys in special packages that make remote hacking attempts difficult. Secondly, after taking this precaution, it is best to leave the keychain in a visible area of ​​the house. Purpose: If an armed thief breaks into our home, it won’t take long to find him.

“They’re breaking into the house to steal the car. They don’t want anything else,” the Ontario officer assured neighbors, and also issued an alarming warning: “Most of those arrested have guns, and these are not toys.”

Turmoil… and alternatives. Riccardi gave his advice at a meeting with Etobicoke residents, but it didn’t take long for his words to spread far beyond. Far beyond. So much so that it was repeated in the national and international press and caused great controversy. The argument got so bad that Toronto Police had to issue a minor ticket. Step back and issued a statement to clarify its official position. “While well-intentioned, there are better ways to prevent vehicle theft.” police station recognized About the officer’s remarks from Ontario.

Escalation of violence. Police recommendations include storing cars in garages, lighting access roads, installing alarms, security cameras or reinforced locks, and not informing networks about when families plan to go on holiday. It may seem extreme, but their data is devastating and urges us to tread carefully: “Home invasion and car theft cases increased by 400% in 2023.” “Police are concerned about the escalation of violence, where all kinds of weapons and firearms are used to steal vehicles, even during attacks on homes.”

12,000 stolen vehicles. These aren’t the only figures Toronto officials are considering. In early February, after attending a summit in Ottawa focusing on the challenges posed by the wave of robberies, Ontario Police released a statement offering some numbers. The most curious thing is the photo showing the number of vehicles seized by thieves. According to data from the Canadian police station, more than 12,000 cars were stolen in the city in 2023; This equates to 34 every day.

Five years ago, the number of stolen cars did not reach 5,300. Not all of them disappear or cross borders in ships, trucks or train cars, as the police station itself is responsible for emphasizing. “Toronto Police have recovered 46% of stolen vehicles since 2018, or 20,000 in total. They have also arrested 1,300 criminals and filed more than 5,000 charges,” he says. The task is not an easy one, because, as the agents admit, vehicles stolen in Toronto often end up outside the city and are then sold “worldwide” with the help of organized crime groups.

“Epidemic” category. This word was also openly used by the Canadian police themselves: “Vehicle theft has become an epidemic in this country: 12,000 cars in Toronto alone last year were worth $790 million. It causes fear and anxiety and supports organized crime. It harms everyone,” they complain from the police station , they highlight a particularly worrying trend: “Car theft cases due to home invasions and break-ins increased by 300% last year, totaling 202 incidents.”

beyond toronto. The car theft problem isn’t unique to Toronto, but it’s true that the problem is entrenched in the city of more than 2.9 million people. Lately New York Times It published a report containing data for 2022 that leaves little room for doubt: While car thefts at the national level in Canada increased by 24% in 2022, in the case of Toronto, the cumulative increase over the last six years is more than 150% on neither more nor less scales. The Insurance Bureau of Canada is even talking about a “national crisis” that is causing insurers to pay out record numbers of claims.

15 extra minutes. For Toronto residents, these numbers are reflected in their daily lives. A good example is city resident Dennis Wilson, who drives a Honda CR-V and has seen his previous car and insurance replacement car stolen. To prevent this from happening again, or at least to make it harder for thieves, he now protects it with an anti-theft arm, wheel clamps and a barrier that prevents the car from moving. All this without counting the alarm, tracking system and four AirTags that allow you to keep your Honda under control.

Every time Wilson wants to start his car, he explains: New York Times, you need an extra 15 minutes to free it from all the guards blocking it. There are also companies that approach the situation with a very different approach, such as companies that are devoted to the installation of security barriers.

Image | Greg Johnson (Unsplash), Jason O’Halloran (Flickr) and Toronto Police

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