Barrie Police are cautioning the public of the use of GPS tracking devices, which have recently been found on vehicles in the city's north end.
The devices are suspected to be used by would-be auto thieves to monitor vehicle locations and movements to determine an opportunity to steal them.
On Wednesday, officers were notified after two vehicle owners discovered the devices under the hood of their newer-model Toyotas (Tundra and Highlander), which were parked at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre. Police say anyone placing the devices would have had easy access from outside the vehicle near the windshield.
According to police, vehicle owners reported receiving repeated notifications on mobile devices that alerted them to a nearby tracking device. However, they say not all cell phones will trigger a notification and shouldn't be relied on to detect a tracker.
Police also reviewed video footage from Monday, which showed an individual on foot stopping near both vehicles and reaching under both hoods before walking away.
"Vehicle owners are encouraged to remain vigilant and check their vehicles – particularly newer models – for anything unusual, including underneath the hood, in areas that could be accessed without opening the vehicle," Barrie Police said in a news release.
