It was a busy weekend for vehicle thieves in South Simcoe.
Between April 12 and 14, four vehicle were stolen, while one other attempt was foiled by the vigilance of a local resident, South Simcoe police say.
The spree began on Friday, with the disappearance of a 2022 Ford F150, registered with Ontario plate BA178244, from an address on Sloan Circle in Innisfil. Additionally, a 2022 Dodge Durango was reported stolen from Tigertail Crescent in Bradford West Gwillimbury — though this vehicle was later recovered by York Regional Police after it was found crashed into a ditch off Highway 9.
The following night, a 2016 Nissan Pathfinder, bearing Ontario plate CSVY 826, vanished from the commuter lot near the highways 88 and 400 interchange in Bradford. Also that day, a 2013 Honda Civic, with licence plate DARS 840, was reported stolen from an address on the 5th Sideroad in Innisfil.
“However, amidst the wave of thefts, one resident of Bradford managed to thwart an attempted theft through preparedness,” Sgt. Dave Phillips said in a media release issued Monday morning. “In the early hours of April 12th, around 2 (a.m.), thieves attempted to execute a signal relay theft on Waterton Way, Bradford. Fortunately, the vehicle owner had taken precautions by storing their keys in a Faraday box. This device successfully blocked the signal, rendering the theft attempt unsuccessful. Frustrated, the would be thieves abandoned their efforts and departed the scene empty-handed in a black sedan.”
Police urge residents to take precautions to deter vehicle theft, including investing in security systems, which can “greatly reduce the risk of falling victim to such crimes,” he said.
BradfordToday and InnisfilToday recently obtained data from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation, which shows there were 146 and 80 vehicles stolen in Bradford and Innisfil, respectively, between Nov. 1, 2021 and Jan. 19, 2024.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact police at 905-775-3311 or 705-436-2141 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. They can also submit anonymous tips online at crimestopperssdm.com.
