Sad but true. There have been 3 car thefts from our neighbourhood in the last 3 weeks, essentially 1 a week.
Police tell us that relay and reprogramming thefts of high-end vehicles with keyless entry and push start technology is increasingly common. The majority of the vehicles are being stolen from residential driveways, usually in the overnight hours.
There are a few things you can do (Toronto Police):
How to reduce the risk of vehicle theft:
When parking your vehicle:
Turn ignition off and TAKE the keys with you
Park in a well-lighted, attended area if possible
Lock all valuables in your trunk
Completely close and lock doors and windows
Turn your wheels to the side to make it harder to tow
When at home:
If you have a garage, use it and lock it
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 ownership or insurance cards in the vehicle when unattended
Drop business cards or address labels inside doors to assist with vehicle identification
We are also a small community
We are a small community, while it's impossible to know everyone in the neighbourhood, we can have a sense of what is usually here. Be aware, if something doesn't look right, speak up or call the police at 416-808-2222.
I will add the following ideas:
Get a Faraday box and keep your car keys in it when not driving (check on Amazon)
Get a steering wheel lock or club (they are just deterrents but every bit can help)
If you are really worried, get an OBD Port Lock (Your OBD port is universal and gives access to your vehicle’s on-board computer. Thief can also use this port to steal the car.)
Get a motion detection flood light for your driveway.