Brazen truck theft caught on camera in Barrie's south end
A brazen vehicle theft in Barrie's south end was caught on camera early Sunday morning when two people broke into Andreia Pacheco's Dodge Ram truck and, within minutes, sped away.
Pacheco said it wasn't until hours later that she found her driveway empty.
"We saw a lot of footprints," she said. "Two footprints that went around the car."
The Barrie woman said while the truck was a temporary rental, the uneasy feeling remains.
"It doesn't feel very safe in the sense that I feel very violated now. This is our home. It's a very safe community," she said.
However, since the start of December, several other trucks have been reported stolen in the city's south end.
On Wednesday, York Regional Police are expected to reveal the results of a months-long investigation into an organized vehicle crime ring, in which officers have recovered over 200 stolen vehicles.
It is unclear if the spike in thefts in Barrie is related.
Barrie police advise residents to consider covering the VIN on vehicles parked in driveways to prevent thefts.
Police also encourage vehicle owners to take extra precautions to prevent thefts amid a recent increase in stolen vehicles.
Police say thieves target newer, push-start vehicles "due to their ability to be reprogrammed."
They suggest parking in a garage or a well-lit area when possible, installing security cameras on the property, using a steering wheel locking device, or purchasing a device designed to protect key fobs.
"These Faraday boxes or pouches can be purchased online or in local stores and are another tool to prevent thefts," the police service noted in a post on Twitter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot in assassination attempt, shocking Europe before elections
The Slovak defence minister says doctors are fighting for the life of the country's prime minister, who was shot multiple times after a political event Wednesday afternoon.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a small island, officials said.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION Your attention span is shrinking, studies say. Here's how to stay focused: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.