The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) says reprogramming thefts of high end vehicles with keyless entry and push start technology continue to be an issue in the region, particularly Burlington.
To date, for the month of September, there have been a total of ten vehicles stolen from Burlington that have been attributed to what investigators believe to be reprogramming thefts. These vehicles have been taken from residential driveways during the overnight hours. The thefts generally take less than 20 minutes to complete.
This was discussed earlier in the year with HRPS Constable Ryan Anderson. You can read that article here as it includes a lot of helpful information.
During a reprogramming theft, the suspects forcefully gain entry to the vehicle. Once inside, they access the diagnostic port of the vehicle which allows them to reprogram a blank key fob to start and steal the vehicle.
The majority of vehicles being targeted include (but are not limited to):
- Honda CRV;
- Lexus RX 350;
- Toyota Highlander; and,
- Ford F150.
There are some measures that residents can take to decrease the chance of the vehicle being stolen:
- Park your vehicle in a locked garage;
- Block the exit of a potential target vehicle with a second vehicle parked behind it;
- Install and on-board diagnostic blocker/protector;
- Install a steering wheel lock device;
- Install a aftermarket GPS tracking device; and,
- Install home security cameras on the exterior of the residence.
Additional Tips:
- Always lock vehicle doors and close all windows;
- With the colder weather approaching never leave your vehicle running with the keys in the vehicle;
- Never leave a spare key inside any vehicle in the driveway;
- Ignition/Fuel Kill switches; and,
- Aftermarket car audio alarm.
Call 911 if you witness a crime in progress or if you see suspicious persons/vehicles in your neighbourhood.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Detective Constable Colin MacLeod of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2357.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
