Whereas, Brampton residents have expressed significant concern for their personal safety and well being, and residents of Brampton have specifically singled out the perceived rise in auto theft, and
Whereas, the Peel Regional Police have recently reported statistical data for the year ending December 31, 2022 which confirms that residents fears are well-founded, and
Whereas, there has been an overall rise in auto thefts across Canada comparing to 2019 with a 97% rise in auto thefts in Peel Region, York Region 134%, Toronto 80% and Montreal 122%.
Whereas, there are a number of factors contributing to sudden and dramatic rise in thefts which include, but are not exclusive to, the vulnerability of keyless lock and keyless ignition FOB technology present in most late model vehicles, and
Whereas, thieves are using a combination of a “relay attack” to unlock and start vehicles and diagnostic equipment to create new key FOBs of stolen vehicles, and
Whereas, a Faraday bag or Faraday pouch can successfully prevent a relay attack by blocking the radio signal given off by a key FOB, thereby foiling thieves who would steal the key FOB signal while residents are sleeping in their homes, and
Whereas, auto theft represents hundreds of millions of dollars of financial loss to Brampton residents and is a contributing cause of high insurance premiums;
Therefore Be It Resolved:
1. That the City of Brampton implement an auto theft reduction campaign in partnership with Peel Crime Stoppers and Brampton Community Safety Office; and
2. That five (5) pilot areas in Brampton be identified in partnership with Peel Regional Police (PRP) and City of Brampton to distribute Faraday pouches/bags to residents in the pilot areas; and
3. That Strategic Communications develop appropriate collateral communication material including, but not exclusive to, a letter from the City asking residents to participate in this program with instructions on how to use the Faraday pouch/bag and Peel Regional Police tips on preventing auto theft; and
4. That appropriate City staff report, at a future date, on the effectiveness of the pilot program and offer any recommendations in furtherance of the goal of reducing auto theft in Brampton; and
5. That the costs for this pilot program be funded from an appropriate City’s General Rate Stabilization Reserve account or such other appropriate funding source as determined by the Treasurer.