Vehicle thieves are back at it as two pickup trucks were stolen overnight in south-end Barrie — within just a few blocks of each other near Ardagh Road and Ferndale Drive — while the owners slept.
This morning at approximately 4 a.m., a Patterson Road resident was awakened by the sound of his 2021 Dodge Ram Rebel pickup truck being started in his driveway. As he approached the front of his house, the truck was gone.
The black pickup had red tow hooks on the front, was equipped with a tonneau cover, Ram storage boxes and had tinted windows with Ontario licence plates BK68927.
Just a few blocks away, on Bishop Drive, another resident also contacted police to report the overnight theft of a 2022 Dodge Ram Longhorn Limited, black in colour, with Ontario licence plates BB86961.
Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday that despite a recent large bust by Peel Regional Police, one can never let their guard down.
“Here we are, just yesterday that Peel Region announced the wrap up to Project R&R where four people were arrested and $10 million worth of vehicles recovered, and then overnight in our community we have two high-end trucks stolen from the driveways of residents as they slept,” he said.
“It goes to show that those that hide in the cloak of night do not sleep," Leon said.
Project R&R was initiated after a trend was identified related to the theft of vehicles, including Range Rovers, within Peel Region and the Greater Toronto Area.
It appears a group targeted specific vehicles at various locations, including underground parking garages and residential neighbourhoods at night while victims slept.
Leon said in both of Barrie’s recent thefts, the owners were in possession of the keys.
“It may not always be doable, but if you can, try to park your vehicle in your garage or at least block it in with a second vehicle in your driveway,” he said.
This comes off of a January week that saw 20 vehicles in the city stolen, 11 of which were pickup trucks. Six of them were taken in one night.
Police are strongly encouraging owners of newer-model Dodge Ram pickup trucks, Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX350 sport utility vehicles to do what they can to secure their vehicles against theft, because those models in particular are highly sought after by thieves.
Steering-wheel locking devices and using a radio-frequency blocking pouch are other suggested ways to deter thieves.
Barrie police is again reminding the community to have a watchful eye and if you see any suspicious people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, at any time of the day or night, to take note of the vehicle, its occupants and, if possible, obtain a licence plate.
