A Toronto police officer’s suggestion to residents about leaving their car keys, specifically their key fobs, near the front door to deter violent home invasions has ignited a debate. This advice, intended to prevent confrontations during break-ins targeting vehicle theft, has been met with mixed reactions and prompted an official statement from the Toronto Police Service.
The Toronto Police Service confirmed on Wednesday that an officer indeed made these remarks at a recent community safety meeting. The officer recommended placing car keys in a Faraday bag by the front door. Faraday bags are designed to block the signals used by thieves to duplicate key fob signals, a common method employed in modern car thefts. The police statement acknowledged the officer’s well-meaning intent but emphasized that there are “other ways to prevent auto theft motivated home invasions.”
This suggestion comes against a backdrop of a significant surge in home invasions and break-ins for auto theft in Toronto, with a staggering 400 percent increase reported last year by the Toronto Police Service. Constable Marco Ricciardi, speaking at an Etobicoke community meeting, was quoted saying, “To prevent the possibility of being attacked in your home, leave your fobs at your front door.” He further elaborated on the dangerous nature of these crimes, stating, “They’re breaking into your home to steal your car. They don’t want anything else. A lot of them that they’re arresting have guns on them and they’re not toy guns, they’re real guns. They’re loaded.”
The Toronto Police Service’s statement addressed the escalating violence associated with these crimes, noting their concern over the use of weapons and firearms during vehicle thefts, including home invasions. While reiterating the long-standing advice to prioritize personal safety over property, the police department outlined a series of alternative preventative measures. These recommendations include parking vehicles in a garage whenever feasible, ensuring well-lit driveways, installing home security systems and cameras, applying security film to windows and doors, securing backyard gates and ground-floor windows, and reporting any suspicious vehicles or individuals in the neighborhood.
These tips aim to provide a multi-layered approach to home and vehicle security, moving beyond the controversial suggestion of leaving key fobs readily accessible. The focus remains on deterring criminals and protecting residents from the rising threat of auto theft-related home invasions in Toronto.
