FACT CHECK: Home security claims
During his news conference today, Poilievre said that crime has gotten so bad that Toronto police are advising residents to leave their car keys by the door.
“Safe streets used to be something we took for granted,” Poilievre said. “Now we have a situation where the Toronto chief of police has to tell Torontonians, ‘Leave your car keys next to the front door so that if someone wants to steal your vehicle, they can safely do it. Just come in, take the keys and leave with the car without hurting anybody.”
However, in a note to CBC News, Stephanie Sayer, manager of media relations for the Toronto Police Service, said the police chief never advised residents to leave their car keys by the front door.
Sayer said the comments were made by a Toronto neighbourhood police officer during a community safety event in February 2024.
“The officer was speaking in the context of personal safety within the home, following a discussion about prevention strategies for vehicle thefts,” she wrote. “He and residents were specifically addressing the increase in violence and the risk of confrontation — both in carjackings and break-and-enters targeting vehicles.”
Sayer said the police service advises the public to prioritize personal safety over property.
The police force later revised its guidance, telling residents to take other steps like adding security cameras or a home security system, adding security film on windows, installing multi-point door locks and avoiding posting to social media that you’re not home.
