Vehicle thefts in Burlington have increased significantly this month
Published September 28, 2021 at 2:54 pm
Vehicle thefts are way up in Burlington.
Halton Regional Police say there has been a significant increase this month in reprogramming thefts of high end vehicles with keyless entry and push start technology in the Burlington area.
A total of 10 vehicles have already been stolen in the month of September. The vehicles are being taken during the overnight hours from people’s driveways, with the theft generally take less than 20 minutes to complete.
During a reprogramming theft, the suspect(s) forcefully gains entry to the vehicle. Once inside, the suspect(s) access the diagnostic port of the vehicle which allows them to reprogram a blank key fab to start and steal the vehicle.
The majority of vehicles being targeted include – but are not limited to – Honda CRV, Lexus RX 350, Toyota Highlander and Ford F150.
Residents can take some measures to decrease the chance of their vehicle being stolen:
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- Park your vehicle in a locked garage
- Block the exit of a potential target vehicle with a second vehicle parked behind it
- Install and on-board diagnostic blocker/protector
- Install a steering wheel lock device
- Install a aftermarket GPS tracking device
- Install home security cameras on the exterior of the residence
- Additional Tips:
- Always lock vehicle doors and close all windows
- With the colder weather approaching never leave your vehicle running with the keys in the vehicle
- Never leave a spare key inside any vehicle in the driveway
- Ignition/Fuel Kill switches
- Aftermarket car audio alarm
Halton Police say they are applying a significant amount of resources to investigate these thefts and are asking residents to call 911 if you witness a crime in progress or if you see suspicious persons/vehicles in your neighbourhood.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective Constable Colin MacLeod of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777, ext. 2357.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
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