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Vehicle thefts are on the rise despite increasingly sophisticated technology in newer vehicles, prompting the Windsor Police Service to increase its focus on prevention.
The department launched a new vehicle theft unit in early March thanks to a $900,000 provincial grant.
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The three-person unit, under the direction of Staff Sgt. Sue Garrett-Bural, has a mandate to investigate thefts as well as to increase public awareness about what has become a common crime.
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In 2023, there were 774 vehicle thefts or attempted vehicle thefts in Windsor and Amherstburg — more than two a day and a 7.4-per-cent increase from the previous year.
What kind of vehicles are criminals looking to steal? How do they get them, what do they do with the vehicles and what can an owner do to protect their property?
How do thieves steal a vehicle?
The most common way to steal a car today is to clone the key fob, by stealing the frequency emitted from the fob.
“Hot-wiring can actually still happen and it does,” said Const. Jamie Fummerton, a member of the vehicle theft unit.
“But more so right now, with the technology, it’s electronic devices that they’re using to either clone your key fobs or they’re actually plugging in to your vehicle through your ODD (onboard digital display) readers or other areas in your vehicle.
“They can plug into your infotainment system to obtain the information they need to access and start your vehicle.”
By intercepting key fob frequency, thieves use the data to unlock the vehicle’s doors and/or start the vehicle. The data can be grabbed from outside or inside the vehicle by accessing its computer systems.
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A key-start ignition prevents cloning but Fummerton said with today’s technology, thieves can still plug into a vehicle, unlock it, start it and drive away.
Thieves may also use a “jimmy” tool to unlock a vehicle’s door or they may drill or break a hole in a window and reach in to unlock it.
Why are certain vehicles targeted?
Because vehicle theft is a crime of opportunity, the more vehicles in a community of a certain type, the higher the chances of them being stolen, according to police.
Thieves in this area target Dodge Rams and Ford F-150 pickups because “we have more out there,” said Garrett-Bural.
With the local auto industry employing workers at Ford and Stellantis, and many General Motors retirees in the area, the Windsor/Essex County communities see higher levels of Detroit 3 vehicle ownership.
Garrett-Bural compared the area to the Greater Toronto area, where luxury vehicles and Honda CRVs are the top cars stolen because so many more drivers own them.
What happens to a stolen vehicle?
Some stolen vehicles are used in the process of committing another crime but the majority are sold — overseas or to unsuspecting Canadian buyers.
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“Everybody has a role, from the guy that’s stealing it, from the guy that’s loading it on the truck or the flatbed,” Garrett-Bural said. “Then, generally, it goes into the sea cans and then we’re seeing it go to some of the shipping yards for export and then it’s ending up going overseas.”
Windsor police worked with the Canadian Border Service Agency on a recent project that led to searches of sea cans — shipping containers used for transportation across oceans — to try to ferret out some of the illegal activity.
“But that’s only one route,” Garrett-Bural said. “We’re also seeing chop shops for parts.
“But eventually those are going to sea cans too and they’re shipping out of the country.”
Police also see very sophisticated vehicle identification number (VIN) plate replacements on stolen cars that remain in Canada and are sold to unsuspecting buyers.
“(Criminals) are getting the paperwork to go with (a vehicle with a VIN plate replacement) so if they sell it, anybody that does a check on that vehicle, they’re not going to know,” Fummerton said.
“It is sophisticated. They’re pretty accurate with the way they’re doing them (and) they’re getting better and better with the way they’re doing VINs.”
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What can you do to try to prevent your vehicle from being stolen?
Both Fummerton and Garrett-Bural are big proponents of the Faraday bag — a small pouch lined with Kevlar or other materials that blocks the frequency or signal of the key fob when it’s placed inside.
A variety of sizes are sold, including wallet-size and cellphone size, to block signals for credit, debit or identity cards and phones. They’re available at many online retailers, including Amazon and Canadian Tire.
Inside your home, place the key fob in a secure spot away from the vehicle.
Physical barriers inside a vehicle include steering wheel or gas and brake pedal locks.
“(Thieves) can break through those but the hope is if they see that they’re not going to take the time to do it because a lot of these thefts are happening in less than two minutes,” Fummerton said.
“So I don’t think they’re going to take the time if they see that, unless they really want that vehicle for a specific reason.”
Criminals can also move the vehicle onto a flatbed truck or trailer to steal it.
With car thefts at an all-time high in Toronto, some people are resorting to installing retractable bollards in their driveways — vertical posts to physically prevent their vehicles from being stolen.
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Garrett-Bural also recommends installing security cameras and motion-detector lights outside of residences and making sure car doors are locked.
Away from home, try to park in well-lit areas or monitored public garages.
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Crime of opportunity
Vehicle theft is often a crime of opportunity. Leaving a vehicle running — even for just a couple of minutes — makes it much more vulnerable to theft.
Fummerton told the Windsor Star earlier this month that 121 vehicles had so far been reported stolen in Windsor and Amherstburg.
Of those, 37 were left unlocked and/or running, “which could have been prevented just by shutting your car off, locking your door, taking your key with you.”
Fummerton said using a remote starter doesn’t make a car more vulnerable as long as the vehicle’s doors are locked.
“They still have to get into your vehicle somehow and then — I can’t speak for every manufacturer but most — the key fob has to be within a certain range for your vehicle to operate,” he said.
What to do if your car is stolen?
“Don’t confront people,” Fummerton said. “That’s only going to lead to possible injuries.”
If a theft is in progress, call 911. If it’s after-the-fact, call the non-emergency Windsor police line at 519-258-6111 to file a report, which will then be investigated.
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