NEWS RELEASE
WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE
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Members of Waterloo Regional Police Service's Break, Enter, and Vehicle Theft (BEVT) Team continue investigating multiple thefts of vehicles in Cambridge.
Between August 11 and September 4, 2024, 16 vehicles are believed to have been stolen through reprogramming tactics by organized vehicle theft groups. The vehicles targeted were primarily Toyota Tundra pickup trucks, Toyota Grand Highlanders, and Lexus SUVs. The vehicles were stolen from residential driveways during the night.
Police encourage individuals to consider taking the following measures to help prevent these thefts:
- Block the access to the onboard diagnostic port to prevent thieves from reprogramming the vehicle's key fob or purchase an aftermarket immobilizer.
- Use a steering wheel locking device to deter theft.
- When not in use, place the vehicle key fob inside a radio frequency shielding bag/pouch to block cell signals.
- Consider equipping your vehicle with an aftermarket Global Positioning System (GPS) tracker, as organized groups can easily defeat onboard manufacturing tracking. The tracker may assist police in locating the vehicle and/or suspects.
- Consider installing a wired camera system and audible alarm, as subjects are known to carry devices with the ability to jam wireless cameras.
- Ensure all keys are accounted for and never left in the vehicle or unattended.
WRPS has seen a drastic increase in reprogramming auto thefts this year in comparison to 2023. So far this year, the region has experienced 147 stolen vehicles from January to September. In 2023, the region had 88 reprogrammed thefts in the same timeframe.
If you observe suspicious people in your neighbourhood looking into vehicles, we encourage you to call police immediately.
Police believe that members of the community, specifically youths and young adults, are being targeted for recruitment by organized crime groups to assist in these thefts. These vulnerable members of the community are often placed into dangerous situations and face the most immediate risk of arrest or injury.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.
A crime in progress can be reported by calling 9-1-1.
Waterloo Regional Police Service is committed to reducing vehicle theft as a recipient of funding provided by the Ontario Government Preventing Auto Theft Grant.
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