Police recover two Toyota Highlanders stolen in Cambridge

Waterloo Regional Police are investigating after two vehicles were stolen with the use of relay and reprogramming technology. 

The vehicles were later recovered.

Sometime overnight between March 8 and 9, an unknown suspect or suspects attended two separate addresses in south Cambridge and stole parked vehicles, Waterloo Regional Police said in a news release.

These vehicles were: 

• Toyota Highlander - stolen from a driveway in the area of McNichol Drive and Haskell Road 
• Toyota Highlander - stolen from a driveway in the area of Carpenter Road and Bloomington Drive 

The vehicles were newer, high-end vehicles with keyless entry and push-start technology. 

Both vehicles were recovered in the area of Main Street North and Mansfield Drive in St. George on the morning of March 9, with similar damage to the driver's door handles and the headliner pulled down at the trunk, exposing wiring harnesses. 

This damage is consistent with the reprogramming style of theft in which the thieves force entry into a vehicle and then program a new key, police said.

Police offered the following theft prevention tips:

• Park your vehicle inside a locked and secure garage 
• Block the access to the onboard diagnostic port to prevent thieves from reprogramming the vehicle's key fob (a simple device can be purchased online) 
• Use a steering wheel locking device to deter theft 
• When not in use, place the vehicle key fob inside a radio frequency shielding bag/pouch to block cell signals
• Consider equipping your vehicle with an aftermarket Global Positioning System (GPS) tracker. The tracker may assist police in locating the vehicle and/or suspects
• Ensure all keys are accounted for and never left in the vehicle or unattended 
• Lock your vehicle at all times
• Never leave your vehicle running and unattended
• Consider purchasing a surveillance system and ensure the quality and function will capture any suspicious activity for a 24-hour period

If you observe suspicious people looking into vehicles in your neighbourhood, call police. This will assist investigators in tracking patterns of criminal behaviour and potentially identifying suspects. 

A crime in progress can be reported by calling 911. 

Any non-emergency incidents can be reported online at wrps.on.ca or by calling 519-570-9777. 

Anyone with information, or video surveillance footage, is encouraged to contact police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. 

Anonymous tips can also be submitted at www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.