Barrie man upset truck was stolen as police confirm spike in vehicle thefts
Stephen Stables is beside himself after the theft of his Ford F-150 Platinum pickup truck early Monday from in front of his southeast Barrie home.
Stables says the thieves were captured on camera scouting his home in the moments before the theft but managed to block the Wi-Fi signal on nearby security cameras.
- Related: Vehicle thieves use radio signal to override key fobs
- Related: Barrie community reports rash of vehicle break-ins
He says he contacted police but isn’t confident he’ll ever see his truck again.
He says a few years ago, the truck cost $85,000 and is now worth about $106,598 - if he can find one. Insurance isn’t offering Stables the current value of the vehicle.
Stables is one of several residents to report a pickup truck theft in Barrie, with at least three reported stolen in the past week.
Barrie police say about 40 per cent more vehicles have been stolen this year compared to last year, averaging about a car theft a day in the city through the first six months of 2022.
Vehicle security experts say thieves have discovered and use sophisticated technology to bypass vehicle anti-theft devices and GPS systems which can easily be found and disabled.
Thieves also use key fob frequency replicators to open vehicles and drive off with them.
Police ask residents to lock their vehicles and, if possible, park in a garage and always remove valuables.
Police also advise using steering wheel locks and other tools to deter thieves.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Record-breaking N.B. lottery winner kept winning ticket on dresser for nearly a year
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.