Waterloo Regional Police have arrested one male after multiple vehicle thefts from residential driveways in Waterloo Region.

Since January 2025, more than 38 Toyota and Lexus vehicles have been stolen in Waterloo Region, and an additional 24 attempted thefts have been reported to WRPS.

On April 17, 2025, between 4:30 a.m. and 7:55 a.m., Waterloo Regional Police received reports of four thefts and two attempted thefts of Lexus and Toyota vehicles in the following locations:

• Winding Wood Crescent, Kitchener
• Pine Valley Drive, Kitchener (attempted theft)
• Montpellier Drive, Waterloo
• Werstine Terrace, Cambridge
• Watson Crescent, North Dumfries Township
• Mitchell Street, North Dumfries Township (attempted theft)

At approximately 6 a.m., Central Division officers located a white Lexus RX350 stolen from Winding Wood Crescent being driven on Erb Street West in Waterloo. The vehicle fled from police, running a red light. Police relocated the Lexus and were able to conduct a traffic stop at the intersection of Highland Road West and Fischer-Hallman Road in Kitchener.

The driver of the vehicle, a 25-year-old male from Quebec, was arrested and charged with theft of a motor vehicle.

The accused was held in police custody for a bail hearing.

 The investigation remains ongoing by WRPS’ Break, Enter, and Vehicle Theft Team.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 519-570-9777, extension 8255.

Anonymous tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service encourages individuals to consider taking measures to help prevent these thefts:

• Before purchasing any vehicle, consult the Équité Association list of most commonly stolen vehicles, available at https://www.equiteassociation.com/top-10-most-stolen-vehicles.
• 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.
• Place the vehicle key fob inside a radio frequency shielding bag/pouch to block radio signals when not in use.
• Consider equipping your vehicle with an after-market Global Positioning System (GPS) tracker or immobilizer unit. 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.
• If you observe suspicious people in your neighbourhood looking into vehicles, we encourage you to call police immediately.

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

A crime in progress can be reported by calling 9-1-1. Any non-emergency incidents can be reported by calling 519-570-9777. 

The Waterloo Regional Police Service is committed to reducing vehicle theft as a recipient of funding provided by the Ontario Government Preventing Auto Theft Grant.