Rash in thefts of popular pickup truck in Waterloo region, Guelph lead to police warning

Police in Waterloo region and Guelph are investigating a number of Dodge Ram pickup truck thefts over the last three weeks.

In Guelph, police are investigating 10 thefts since Nov. 25. 

The most recent happened sometime between Dec. 8 and Dec. 9 in a residential area in the Clair Road E. and Gordon Street in the south end of the city. 

On the same night, three Dodge Ram pickup trucks were stolen from three separate addresses in the Hespeler area of Cambridge.

Investigators believe some of the trucks in both municipalities were stolen using a relay and reprogramming technology.

In a press release on recent thefts, the Waterloo Regional Police Service said a fob signal is found inside a home and once the connection is made, thieves are able to unlock the doors of the truck and get inside to access the vehicle's diagnostics to reprogram a blank key fob. That allows them to start the truck and leave. When this technique is used, all the vehicle owners are left with is their vehicle keys.

The Ontario Provincial Police have also noted a rash of Dodge Ram truck thefts in recent months:

• On Dec. 7, a black Dodge Ram 1500 was stolen from a home in Kincardine.
• On Nov. 2, a black Dodge Ram truck was stolen from a home in Culross Township, near Teewater.
• On Aug. 28, four Dodge Ram trucks were reported to be stolen from homes in Fergus.
• On Aug. 5, three Dodge Ram trucks were stolen from homes in south Kitchener.

Thieves capitalize on advanced technology

Dodge Ram trucks were on the Equité Association's list of the top 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada. The Ram 1500 Series from the years 2011 to 2018 ranks sixth on the list of stolen vehicles.

A spokesperson for the association, which tracks the number of vehicles stolen in Canada, says thieves are capitalizing on advancements in technology in order to steal the vehicles.

"To avoid detection, car thieves often disable the GPS trackers on the vehicle," the spokesperson said.

"Many are familiar with where the manufacturer installs the tracker, making it an easy target. In the case of additional or undiscovered GPS systems that may have been installed, thieves will often leave a car to 'cool' somewhere, such as a quiet parking lot, until they can verify that no one is tracking it."

Equité Association says auto theft costs Canadians millions of dollars each year and the proceeds go to organized crime and terrorism, both domestically and internationally.

Safety tips

The Insurance Bureau of Canada suggests these tips to prevent yourself from becoming a victim:

• Don't leave a keyless entry fob in a vehicle or unprotected at the front entrance of your home. Thieves can use wireless transmitters to intercept the signal, giving them access to the vehicle. Consider storing fobs in a protective box or bag that blocks the signal.
• Install an immobilizing device which prevents thieves from bypassing the ignition and hot-wiring a vehicle. This can include devices that require wireless ignition authentication or starter, ignition and fuel pump disablers.
• Install a tracking device that emits a signal to police or a monitoring station if a vehicle is stolen.
• Never leave a vehicle running when unattended.
• Lock the doors and close all windows when parked.
• Make sure to park in well-lit areas or in the garage.
• Use a visible or audible device that shows thieves a vehicle is protected.
• Consider using a deterrent like a steering wheel or brake pedal lock.
• Don't leave personal information, like insurance and ownership documents, in the glove box when parked.

In Guelph, police said in a statement they're on track to match the number of thefts from 2021.

"Last year the Guelph Police Service investigated almost 200 auto thefts. A similar number has already been reported during 2022 with nearly a month to go," police said in a release.