Auto Crimes
Website Editor • October 5, 2022
Vehicle crime can happen to anyone.
Any vehicle is susceptible.
By taking simple precautions, you can dramatically reduce the risk of vehicle theft or loss of property from vehicle.
AUTO SAFETY STARTS WITH YOU!
WHY VEHICLES ARE STOLEN
- To sell the vehicle or parts - Often thieves will take your car out of the province or country. Identification numbers may be altered or removed, ownership certificates forged, parts sold or the vehicle repainted.
- For transportation - Thieves will use your vehicle to get where they want to go and later abandon the vehicle. They may just drive it around to gain 'status' with their friends.
- To commit other crimes - Vehicles are stolen and used in other crimes such as robberies, break and enters, drug dealing or drive-by shootings. For vehicle cloning -Vehicles are stolen, given a fraudulent identification number and then sold to unsuspecting persons who are defrauded of their money. Fraudulent vehicles will be located and seized by the Police.
HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF VEHICLE THEFT
When parking your vehicle:
- Never leave a vehicle parked and running when you run an errand-even for a minute
- Always, remove the keys and take them with you
- Park in a well-lit, attended area if possible
- Completely close and lock doors and windows
- Turn your wheels towards the curb to make it harder to tow
When at home:
- If you have a garage, use and lock it
- Install a motion sensor light to light up your vehicles and garage
- If you have a rear-wheel drive car, back into driveway
- If you have a front-wheel drive car, park front end first
- Always set the emergency brake
- Don't leave the original ownership or insurance cards in the vehicle when unattended - make a photocopy of both sides of the documents to leave in your vehicle
- Drop business cards or address labels inside doors to assist with vehicle identification
Other important tips:
- Never hide a spare key in the vehicle, thieves know where to look
- Be aware of your surroundings and drive with your doors locked
- Be aware when purchasing a vehicle. If the deal sounds too good to be true ... it probably is a scam!
PREVENTING THEFT FROM YOUR VEHICLE
- Never leave ANYTHING on display when you leave your vehicle. This includes purses left in the front seat when pumping gas and power chords to run and charge devices as these may attract thieves to your vehicle.
- Consider an alarm - Consider installing an alarm if you regularly leave your vehicle in accessible unattended places such as a parking garage or a commuter parking lot. Remember to always take anti-theft precautions, regardless of whether you have an alarm as an alarm can only be expected to improve your chances of not being a victim.
- Tips when parking your vehicle:
- Remove any item that you do not want to lose from your vehicle as hiding them only discourages theft - REMEMBER, they CAN'T steal what's not there!
- Lock all parcels and shopping bags in the trunk of your vehicle.
INVEST IN VEHICLE PROTECTION IF POSSIBLE
- Have an Ignition Kill Switch installed - The ignition kill switch will prevent your vehicle from starting without it being turned on. As only you will know its hidden location, it is a good deterrent against thieves. In the event that you have this switch installed, contact your insurer and ask for a discount.
- Window Etchings - Have your vehicle's windows etched with your Vehicle Identification Number. This is a visual deterrent that is costly for thieves to change.
- Visible Steering Wheel Lock - A visual deterrent to a thief.
- Consider installing a Vehicle Tracking Systems -A vehicle tracking system uses GPS technology to locate and track your vehicle.
IF YOUR VEHICLE IS STOLEN:
Report the theft to the Police immediately. -
You should be ready to report the following vehicle information:
- Year and make, model, colour(s)
- Licence number
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Serial numbers of all special equipment
- Special markings - dents, scratches, other damage etc.
If your accessories are stolen, the Police will need specific information to identify these items.
To report a crime anonymously,
call Crime Stoppers at:
1-800-222-8477(TIPS)
or online at: www.222tips.com
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11 Divison News
Officers participate and organize a weekly bowling program called “Incredibowlers”, with children from 4020 Dundas Street West
11 Division Neighbourhood Community Officers were on hand at Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club assisting with the 12th Christmas Hamper Program. The Christmas Hamper Program serves Club members and the community during the holiday season. This Christmas 475 hampers made of various items: Fresh products, canned goods, clothes, toys and baby essentials were distributed. Recipients of the hampers received a frozen turkey, two frozen chickens or hot meals with sides. During one busy week just before Christmas, volunteers put together the hampers, before delivering them to the recipients. All of this could not exist without our community partners and supporters. "Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club"
On December 17, 2022, 11 Division Neighbourhood Community Officers were on hand at our local Loblaws (3671 Dundas Street, West) asking community members for help cramming a cruiser with non-perishable foods this holiday season. Donations were given to "Feed it Forward" , 2770 Dundas Street West. Feed It Forward has been operating Canada’s first and only Pay-What-You-Can Grocery Store, bakery and coffee shop since June 2018 in the Junction neighborhood of Toronto. All of the food rescued by Feed It Forward is diverted to the grocery store where it is sorted and organized by volunteers, and then put out on the shelves for customers. Customers pay what they can afford based on their budget or can take what they need free of charge. Many of the grocery store customers choose to give back by donating their own food or volunteering at the store or with Feed It Forward’s other programs. www.feeditforward.ca
On October 26, 2022, 11 Division Neighbourhood Community Officers hosted a Coffee With Cops event at Coffee Culture Cafe & Eatery. Removing the barriers, eliminating the agenda, and meeting on mutual turf is why the Coffee with a Cop concept works. Community engagement and dialogue must be mutual. Community members talking with officers, learning what’s actually behind the badge, and building trust along the way; one cup at a time.
Oakville, Ontario — With the holiday season upon us, MADD Canada is asking Canadians to take a moment to think about all those who have lost loved ones or suffered devastating injuries as a result of impaired driving, and to make the commitment to always drive sober. “Far too many people are missing loved ones and far too many are dealing with injuries, all because of senseless and preventable impaired driving crashes,” said MADD Canada National President Jaymie-Lyne Hancock “For my family, Christmas will never be the same because my brother D.J. won’t be with us.” D.J. Hancock’s car was struck head on by an impaired driver in 2014. Just 18 years old, D.J. died at the crash scene. “Please don’t take the risk with your life or anyone else’s life,” Ms. Hancock said. ‘If you are consuming alcohol, cannabis or other drugs, put the keys away and arrange a sober ride home. Call an Uber or a cab, take public transit or arrange a designated driver.” Everyone can do their part to prevent tragedies on our roads this holiday season by: Never driving impaired; Never riding with a driver who is impaired; Calling 911 to report suspected impaired drivers. Canadians wanting to plan their sober and reliable drive home during the holidays, and all year round, can do it with just the push of a button – check out Uber, the Official Designated Ride of MADD Canada. Visit https://www.uber.com/ca/en/ for more information. MADD Canada is currently in the midst of its Project Red Ribbon campaign to promote safe and sober driving during the holidays. Red ribbons and car decals are available through the MADD Canada website at madd.ca and through local Chapters and Community Leaders. Anyone who wishes to support Project Red Ribbon with a donation can do so online through the website, by calling 1-800-665-6233 or by texting “RIBBON” to 45678 (a one-time $10 donation is added to the donor’s cell phone bill and payable to his or her service provider). For more information, contact: Jaymie-Lyne Hancock, MADD Canada National President, 705-623-3148 or jhancock@madd.ca. Deb Kelly, MADD Canada Communications Manager, 1-800-665-6233, ext. 240 or dkelly@madd.ca.
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Construction Training & Apprenticeship Ontario (CTAO) provides a one-stop shop of educational tools and materials for applicants pursuing pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities in the skilled trades.
On average, a car is stolen every 6 minutes in Canada.
Every year, people are injured or die as a result of auto theft. When it's in the hands of a thief, a stolen car is like a loaded gun. Vehicle thieves have absolutely no regard for public safety and the rules of the road.
Please note a warmer weather pattern is forecasted for the Greater Toronto Area this weekend and into next week. These conditions are favourable for the further break-up, melting and movement of any remaining river ice along watercourses.
Be safe this winter and remember the following tips:
Ice is never 100% safe. Conditions are not being monitored and ice may be unsafe.
Keep family and pets away from all bodies of water.
Stay away from frozen reservoirs and ice around dams and channels and avoid all recreational activities in or around water, unless at an officially designated municipal facility fit for that purpose.
Obey any safety signage that has been posted.
If an ice jam is posing an immediate risk to life and property, call 911.