Organized crime suspected in rash of high-end car thefts in Sarnia

Key fob lock (file)

Sarnia Police believe organized crime is behind a recent rash of high-end Toyota and Lexus thefts in the city.

Police say there were five thefts or attempted thefts in two days. Car thieves targeted Toyota Highlanders, Toyota Tundras, and various Lexus models – each typically valued at between $60,000 and $100,000.

Acting Inspector Kent Jamieson says they’re stolen from driveways or taken off the street from in front of homes.

“So, anybody who is scouting in the area can see that they’re there. Can see how readily available they are. How vulnerable they are to being stolen,” said Jamieson.

He also says the thefts are connected to organized crime involving suspected culprits from outside the area. Once a vehicle is taken it can be difficult to trace.

“There’s various ways that they can be sold. They can be re-identified. They can be shipped to other countries where any type of theft that happened over here, there’s no real accountability measures over there,” he explained.

Western University tech expert Apurva Narayan says thieves are becoming more technologically sophisticated, and can now use artificial intelligence to their advantage. He says they can enter and start a car without leaving a mark on it.

“When you unlock your car you send a signal to the car. That’s basically your security unlocking signal that goes to the car and they can actually monitor that. That allows them to replicate and do some type of signal attack. Then once that hits, they know what the vulnerability is and now they can unlock all these cars,” he explained.

In the meantime, police say prevention is the best protection. The Sarnia Police Service officers a security consult at no charge. You can have officers come to your home and do a full security check. It’s called Crime Prevention through Environmental Design.

“We have trained officers here. You can schedule an appointment and they will come visit you at your home, and actually go around the property with you and provide their suggestions based on their experience and training,” explained Jamieson.

Sarnia Police Service shared the following list.

Theft Prevention Tips

Residents can reduce their risk of vehicle theft by:

• Parking vehicles inside a locked garage whenever possible.
• Using a visible steering wheel lock, such as a “Club” style device. Physical anti-theft devices remain one of the most effective deterrents, as they require additional time and effort to defeat.
• Installing an aftermarket immobilizer approved by insurers or vehicle manufacturers.
• Parking another vehicle behind the targeted vehicle when parked at home.
• Parking in well-lit areas and ensuring residential security cameras are operational.
• Keeping keys and key fobs secured inside the home. While the current thefts do not appear to involve relay attacks, protecting keys remains an important theft prevention measure.