Canadians are facing an escalating car theft problem that is costing insurers a record $1.2 billion a year.
A car is stolen every six minutes in Canada, according to a 2023 report by the Canadian Finance and Leasing Association. The Toronto Police Service is now advising residents to leave their car keys at their home’s front door for thieves.
“To prevent the possibility of being attacked in your home, leave your fobs at your front door because they’re breaking into your home to steal your car. They don’t want anything else,” Toronto Police Service Constable Marco Ricciardi said to residents at a recent community safety meeting in Etobicoke.
He added, “A lot that we’re arresting have guns on them, and they’re not toy guns. They’re real guns. They’re loaded.”
The Toronto Police Association warned of staffing shortages and the desperate need for an increased police budget in January. It ran an ad with the voice of a woman asking for help from the police, and a narrator notes that the police force is having trouble responding to emergency calls in a timely manner.
“Almost 4,000 calls are placed to 911 every day, and response times for police reached a staggering 22 minutes in 2023 and climbing. When seconds count, help us get there faster,” the narrator says in the video.
The January ad was met with widespread criticism.
“Is the TPA advocating for castle doctrine and concealed carry?” a social media user asked on X.
The recent comments to allow thieves access to car keys also brought criticism and mockery on social media.
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“Why stop there? Put up a sign advertising it. Oh, and don’t forget to fill up the gas tank to avoid inconveniencing them,” a person said in response on social media.
Another social media user chimed in, “Leave your money on the door step too, perhaps they’ll need it for gas. You wouldn’t want to be held responsible for armed robbery of a gas station.”
