Car theft up in Toronto, with increasingly cunning methods: Toronto police

Toronto police say car theft is on the rise and sophisticated techniques are being used to get the job done.

In a release Wednesday, police said there’s been an increase in car thefts in Toronto, with thieves using technology to track and steal highly sought Toyota, Lexus, Jeep, Land Rover and Range Rover models.

Police say thieves are monitoring online mapping programs to determine vehicle locations, then recording vehicle VIN numbers and cloning key codes.

High-end vehicles are often shipped overseas.

RELATED: Toronto councillor calls for crackdown amid upward trend in vehicle theft

Toronto police tips to prevent vehicle theft

• Cover the VIN number on your dash with a piece of tape
• Purchase and use an OBD2 lock, which makes it difficult to obtain access to your vehicle’s computer
• Park another vehicle behind your Toyota, Lexus, Jeep, Land Rover or Range Rover in the driveway
• If you park on the street, use a security lock on your steering wheel
• If you observe anything suspicious such as people looking at VIN numbers, note their description, vehicle they are in, licence plate number and contact police or Crime Stoppers