A series of break-ins to parked vehicles around Waterloo Region appear to have two common themes.
For one, all of the vehicles in question are taxis.
Additionally, police believe the same person may be responsible for each of the break-ins.
“It seems to be targeting vehicles that are unoccupied and off-duty,” said Waterloo Regional Police spokesperson Alana Russell.
Police say they’re investigating a total of 17 thefts from taxicabs. Some cases date back to January.
Waterloo Taxi president Peter Neufeld says he’s aware of more break-ins than that – 27 affecting his company’s cabs, and about a dozen more involving taxis belonging to other companies.
“It’s frustrating, to say the least,” he said.
Some taxi drivers have even been hit multiple times.
Husni Al-Asbahi says he lost some cash during one break-in in March, and was then victimized again Monday night.
“It is really upsetting to go through something like this,” he said.
“It’s not just an immature, random act of crime.”
Al-Asbahi expects replacing the window smashed in the latest break-in will set him back by more than $300.
Neufeld says some drivers have even taken to leaving their windows rolled down overnight – so that even if items are stolen, the window itself is left intact.
Surveillance images from some of the break-ins have been released to the public in the hopes of identifying the person believed to be responsible.
“Hopefully somebody will recognize him and report him to the authorities,” Neufeld said.
Based on the surveillance images, investigators believe that the man is likely using a bicycle to get to at least some of the taxis.
With reporting by Nicole Lampa
