Toronto police spark outrage for telling residents to leave their car keys at ... trends now
Toronto police sparked outrage after advising residents to leave their car keys at the front door and let thieves to take their vehicles.
This shocking message comes as car thefts have soared by 150 percent over six years in Canada's largest city, forcing residents to hide their cars in secret locations and fortify them with round-the-clock security.
At a recent community safety townhall meeting held in Etobicoke, Toronto Police Service (TPS) Constable Marco Ricciardi addressed the issue and offered his controversial tip.
'To prevent the possibility of being attacked in your home, leave your fobs at your front door, because thieves are breaking into homes solely to steal cars. They don't want anything else,' said Ricciardi.
This bizarre advice has left residents and social media users outraged, with many attributing the rampant car theft to lax bail and sentencing rules under the administration of Justin Trudeau.
Toronto police sparked outrage after Constable Marco Ricciardi (pictured) advised residents to leave their car keys at the front door and let thieves to take their vehicles
The shocking message comes as car thefts have soared by 150 percent over six years in Canada 's largest city, forcing residents to hide their cars in secret locations and fortify them with round-the-clock security. Pictured: a car theft in Ontario's Richmond Hill back in August
This bizarre advice has left residents and social media users outraged, with many attributing the rampant car theft to lax bail and sentencing rules under the administration of Justin Trudeau
Ricciardi said residents could avoid potential home invasions by leaving car fobs at front doors, suggesting those break-ins could be violent and life-threatening.
'A lot of them that [police] are arresting have guns on them. And they are not toy guns. They are real guns, they are loaded,' he said at the meeting.
A social media user wrote: 'Just leave the f**king car running at the end of your driveway. Why make them walk all the way up to the front door? Duh!'
Another person chimed in by saying, 'That's a slippery slope because next it will be suggested to leave gas money too.'
A flurry of comments points out that advising individuals to give their keys to armed thieves does not make sense and could lead to much more serious consequences.
One user wrote: 'Let them have your car because they have guns. We knew that would happen. Next will be keep your doors unlocked and wife, girlfriend, or 10-year-old daughter ready to be gang raped at home.'
Toronto residents have taken great pains in protecting their vehicles, as an estimated 90,000 cars are stolen each year in the city.
" class="c7" scrolling="no"
Ricciardi said residents could avoid potential home invasions by leaving car fobs at front doors, suggesting those break-ins could be violent and life-threatening
Critics have cited lax laws from Justin Trudeau , who in turn has blamed the previous Conservative government
'A catchy slogan won't stop auto theft,' the eight-year prime minister said at the conference February 8, speaking to allies, conservative rivals, and an assortment of police officers
Meanwhile, auto thefts are up across the board in Canada's provinces - 50 percent in Quebec, 48 percent in Ontario, 34 percent in Atlantic Canada, and 18 percent in Alberta - costing residents about $1.2 billion a year.
That's not including the fees incurred by private security firms employed by people like Nick Elworthy whose Farrari was stolen last year, which typically cost about $1200 to $1700 per day.
Elworthy told the New York Times Saturday of how he was contacted by
