In a period of just under two hours last night, Barrie police were contacted by three pickup truck owners to advise that their vehicles had been stolen from their driveways while they slept.
From the investigations that followed, police say the only common links are that all the trucks were Ford F-150s and the owners still had the key fobs for their trucks.
Two of the stolen trucks were 2022 models and one was a 2023. One of the 2022 models which was stolen was a King Ranch model, red in colour, while the other 2022 F-150 stolen was blue. The lone 2023 truck stolen was black.
Two of these thefts occurred in the city's north end, in an area just east of the East Bayfield Community Centre, and the other occurred in a residential neighbourhood southeast of the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre.
City police say vehicles that have been targeted by thieves in the Barrie area continue to be RAM pickups, Toyota Highlanders, Lexus RX models and the recent Ford F-150s.
Police strongly recommend that all vehicle owners consider the following tips to help prevent your motor vehicle from being stolen:
- Park your locked motor vehicle in a locked garage
- Move any key fobs away from front door area and secure in a Faraday bag or Feraday box
- Use a steering wheel locking device or a wheel locking device
- Consider installing an ignition immobilizer
- Use a second motor vehicle and park it close to any identified vehicles
- Utilize tracking devices
- Install security cameras
- Keep exterior lighting on during the overnight hours
- Never leave valuables in your car – secure in your home or in the trunk (or cover them so they cannot be seen)
- Always lock your motor vehicle if it cannot be safely secured indoors.
