Barrie police are adding a Ford Bronco to a growing list of cars and trucks reported stolen throughout the city in recent days.
On Monday, police officials say they received three separate reports of Ford F-150 pickup trucks stolen out of driveways as the owners slept inside.
Late Monday afternoon, police received a report of another stolen vehicle — this time a 2023 red Ford Bronco, which had also been stolen from the driveway sometime overnight.
“This vehicle was last at 5 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and was left locked and on the driveway of the owners’ home which is located in a neighbourhood just southeast of St. Vincent Street and Osprey Ridge Road,” noted Peter Leon, the department’s communications co-ordinator.
Similar to the trucks, the owner also had both sets of keys, and it is believed that this theft also involved the cloning of a key fob, he stated.
The stolen Bronco features aftermarket modifications that include 18-inch Fuel rims with 33-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, a modified exhaust system and amber-coloured headlights.
Barrie police have recently learned that another four 2023 Ford F-150 pickup trucks have been stolen and reported to Dufferin OPP (two from the Town of Orangeville and two from the Town of Mono) this week.
This is the first known theft involving a Ford Bronco, noted Leon, adding as a result, police are asking owners of this type of vehicle to take precautions against theft.
“Any motor vehicle can be a target of theft at any time, but again, prevention steps taken today could prevent you from becoming a victim tomorrow,” he said.
Police are urging owners to consider parking their locked vehicle in a locked garage if possible, as well as to move any key fobs away from front door area and secure in a Faraday bag or Faraday box, using a steering wheel locking device or a wheel locking device or consider installing an ignition immobilizer.
Another option to avoid theft is to use a second motor vehicle and park it close to any vehicles that have been identified as targets by thieves, utilizing tracking devices, installing security cameras and keeping exterior lights on overnight.
“Never leave valuables in your car. Secure in your home or in the trunk … or cover them so they cannot be seen,” added Leon. “And always lock your motor vehicle if it cannot be safely secured indoors even if you are leaving it only for a brief period of time.”
Two of the stolen trucks were 2022 models and one was a 2023. One of the 2022 models which was stolen was a red King Ranch model while the other was a blue 2022 F-150.
The lone 2023 truck stolen this week was black, according to police.
Two of those thefts took place in the city's north end, in just east of the East Bayfield Community Centre, while the other occurred in a residential neighbourhood southeast of the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre.
