Leave car keys at front door for thieves, advises Toronto Police

Following a surge in car thefts in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the Toronto Police came up with a bizarre idea. The police asked the residents in the Greater Toronto Area to leave their car keys outside their homes.

The area is on high alert after several home invasions were connected to auto theft.

Numbers reveal a concerning trend, as car thefts in the GTA increased by nearly 25% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the news portal Toronto City News.

Likewise, home invasions and break-ins for auto theft saw a staggering 400% rise during the same period.

As a result, the Toronto Police offered preventative measures to residents, including well-lit driveways, security cameras, and utilising home security systems.

However, a suggestion by Constable Marco Ricciardi at an Etobicoke safety meeting last month became the talk of the town.

Constable Ricciardi advised residents to leave their key fobs in a Faraday pouch (a special bag that blocks electromagnetic signals) at the “front door” for thieves, hoping to deter violent confrontations during break-ins.

“To prevent the possibility of being attacked in your home, leave your fobs at the front door because they are breaking into your home to steal your car; they don’t want anything else,” said Constable Ricciardi.

“A lot of them that they’re arresting have guns on them, and they are not toy guns,” he added. “They are real guns, they’re loaded.”

OUTRAGE SPARKED ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Constable Marco Ricciardi’s suggestions sparked outrage online, with many finding the advice illogical.

“This is bizarre,” an X user expressed their disbelief.

“Toronto Police advise the public to leave your fobs near the door… Why not hang your keys outside the door? Or better yet, just leave them in the car,” the user added.

“This is failed state-level insanity… Hey guys, do you mind making it easier for people to steal your cars so that they won’t break into your house instead? Thanks,” wrote another user.

Toronto Police acknowledged the public’s concerns in a later release, stating, “While well-meaning, there are other ways to prevent auto theft-motivated home invasions… Police are concerned about an escalation in violence, where all sorts of weapons and firearms are being used to steal vehicles, and that includes during home invasions.”

Meanwhile, York Regional Police are taking a more proactive approach in high-risk areas.

They are distributing door stops to residents to prevent forced entry handing out pamphlets with preventative measures like alarm systems, security cameras, and motion sensor lights, and avoiding posting holiday plans on social media.

“So it’s gotten to the point where they are just handing these things out to residents, that to me shows that it’s very high risk,” said Ally Galinski, a resident who received a door stop.

While appreciative of the advice, Galinski echoed the call for a more proactive approach from law enforcement, particularly increased patrols in high-risk areas.