Armed thefts are on the rise in the GTA

Police say robbers will follow drivers for long distances before forcing them to hand over keys

Maple Leafs star winger Mitch Marner is the latest victim of what GTA police are calling a rising trend in armed carjackings.

According to police, Marner’s car, a black Range Rover SUV, is among several highly targeted high-end brands, such as Mercedes, Audi and Porsche. But police warn that thieves are also looking out for more common brands, such as VW, Honda and Toyota.

As vehicle thefts spread across the GTA, here is what we know and don’t know about the trend:

Why are car thefts on the rise?

The reason is not entirely clear, but the rise is stark: according to Toronto police, auto thefts are up 81 per cent since 2017.

Police Chief James Ramer this year noted a jump in “opportunistic car thefts,” in which thieves simply hop into cars that owners had started up to warm them in cold weather.

Carjackings — like Marner’s — are also up sharply, with an increase of 39 per cent between 2019 and 2020. Toronto police this month announced arrests in what they called a month-long “carjacking spree” involving “extreme violence.” The arrests involved armed stealing cars from drivers in parking garages and city intersections — even in broad daylight, according to police.

In recent cases, police say robbers have travelled long distances searching for target vehicles, then following the driver to their residence or an intersection where they force them to hand over the keys.

In a dramatic example, York Regional Police posted a video showing suspects appearing to deliberate cause an accident at an intersection before throwing the driver of another vehicle out of her car and driving it away — the whole thing lasting less than 25 seconds.

What should I do if I’m carjacked?

Early reports indicate that Marner didn’t hesitate to hand over the keys to his Range Rover Monday night in the parking lot of an Etobicoke cinema.

That’s smart. Police and experts generally advise drivers to simply co-operate with armed thieves’ demands.

“Don’t fight back,” York Regional Police said in a Monday news release. “If you are approached by thieves, remain calm and comply.”

Added Andrew Bartucci, director of external communications at the Insurance Bureau of Canada: “Safety should always come first. Don’t get into a confrontation with thieves,” he said. “Your vehicle can always be replaced.”

Victims are advised to call 911 as soon as safely possible.

The next step is to speak to your insurance provider. With a police report on the incident, the insurer can start a claims process.

Bartucci said the increase in auto theft has led to a significant jump in insurance claims. In Toronto alone, claims attributed to auto theft to nearly $57 million in 2020, more than triple the $17 million claimed in 2016.

What happens to my car after it’s stolen?

Police say thieves are generally stealing cars to sell — to unsuspecting buyers in the province, or even to ship out of the country for an exorbitant markup overseas. Criminals alter or remove identification numbers, use forged ownership certificates or repaint the vehicles for modification.

But not all cars are stolen for profit. Thieves are sometimes looking for a disposable ride they can use for other crimes.

Police have frequently cited the use of stolen vehicles in drive-by shootings, drug dealing or breakins. In most such cases, the stolen cars are later abandoned or torched.

What should I do to reduce the risk?

There may not be much you can do to prevent a carjacking, but police and experts do offer some advice to prevent auto theft generally.

The basics are to never leave the engine running while unattended and always close car windows and lock the doors. Try also to hide car keys in a secure area away from the front of the house — thieves can use technology to intercept with a key fob’s signals if they are located near the door.

Other tips include: parking inside a locked garage where possible; using a steering wheel lock; installing a quality video surveillance system and electronic alarm; adding a vehicle tracking system; and installing a lock on your vehicle’s data port to prevent thieves from gaining access to its system through a computer.

Police say thieves are generally stealing cars to sell — to unsuspecting buyers in the province, or even to ship out of the country for an exorbitant markup overseas