Rise in crime prompts North York neighbourhood to hire private security
A Toronto Police official called the area the 'epicentre' of car thefts in GTA
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Vehicle thefts and attempted home invasions are so bad, and police response times so slow, that a group of 100 homeowners in North York hired a private security firm to patrol their neighbourhood seven days a week.
“We can’t rely on police to attend car thefts or home invasions in a timely manner,” Rommy Metyas, one of the driving forces behind the neighbourhood initiative, said in a statement.
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“While stolen cars are one thing, the attempts to invade homes while families are sleeping have put us in a perpetual state of fear.”
Stephanie Smyth, a spokesperson for the neighbourhood group, said she hopes police and the city recognize the gravity of the situation and will take swift and significant action.
Smyth is calling for increased police patrols in areas vulnerable to vehicle theft, tougher bail conditions for those involved in organized auto theft rings, stiffer sentences for those convicted of auto theft and more aggressive border patrols.
“Residents shouldn’t have to subsidize policing in a city the size of Toronto,” Smyth said in a statement.
At a North Toronto church meeting on Thursday night with over 50 concerned residents, senior police officials from 32 Division cited low risk and high reward as they explained auto thefts committed by organized crime groups have increased by 62% in recent years.
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Supt. Donald Belanger told the crowd that “the more eyes the better” on criminal activity, especially in their area, which he called the “epicentre” of car thefts in the GTA.
Belanger agreed with one resident who said there is not much that can be done until the ‘head of the snake’ of organized crime is cut off.
He also said recent successful efforts to fight auto theft starts with tougher legislation and stricter border inspections.
Event co-organizer Karen Stintz, a former city councillor for the area and now a Conservative nominee for MP of Eglinton-Lawrence in the next federal election, said “crime wasn’t like this five or 10 years ago” and she understands “residents are trying to take back control.”
She added: “I don’t feel police are supported enough” and “residents are picking up security costs and is that reasonable or sustainable?”
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Belanger said police “are throwing everything we have at this issue, including plainclothes police officers and uniform officers patrolling the streets of 32 division at all hours.”
But he added: “The police service is not built with surge capacities.”
Stintz said while grateful to police for meeting with the community, “it became clear during the discussion that all levels of government can do more to protect communities.”
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