In a brazen daylight operation that demonstrates the evolving tactics of modern vehicle thieves, Toronto police are searching for two suspects who used an electric scooter as their getaway vehicle after stealing a car in North York last week.
The theft occurred Thursday afternoon near Bayview and Steeles avenues, where surveillance footage captured two individuals arriving on a single e-scooter before targeting a parked vehicle. According to Detective Sergeant Mark Pillman of the Toronto Police Service’s Auto Theft Division, the suspects managed to override the vehicle’s security system within minutes.
“What we’re seeing is a concerning adaptation in auto theft methodology,” Pillman explained. “These individuals are highly mobile, can easily navigate through traffic or pedestrian areas on the e-scooter, and leave minimal evidence behind.”
The stolen vehicle, a 2023 Lexus SUV valued at approximately $75,000, was equipped with standard anti-theft features that proved insufficient against the sophisticated techniques employed by the thieves. This incident adds to the alarming rise in auto thefts across the Greater Toronto Area, where insurance data shows a 48% increase in vehicle thefts over the past two years.
Witness accounts describe the suspects as two males in their early twenties, both wearing dark clothing and face coverings. One suspect operated the e-scooter while the other carried what appeared to be electronic override equipment in a backpack.
“They were incredibly efficient,” said Maya Richardson, who observed the theft from a nearby coffee shop. “From arrival to departure with both vehicles – the scooter and the car – couldn’t have been more than six minutes.”
Auto theft experts note this incident reflects a growing trend of thieves using alternative transportation methods to commit vehicle thefts. The approach allows perpetrators to arrive inconspicuously and depart with both the stolen vehicle and their original transportation, leaving fewer traces for investigators.
Toronto Police have issued recommendations to vehicle owners, including the use of steering wheel locks, faraday pouches for key fobs, and aftermarket GPS trackers as additional security measures.
“Standard manufacturer security systems are increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated thieves,” said automotive security specialist Devon Williams. “Layered protection approaches are becoming essential for high-value vehicles.”
Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward, especially those with additional security camera footage from the Bayview and Steeles area between 2:00 and 3:30 PM on Thursday.
As vehicle theft techniques continue to evolve, can our security measures and law enforcement strategies adapt quickly enough to protect valuable assets, or will we see more innovative criminal approaches before effective countermeasures can be implemented?
