Toronto theft spurs deterrent

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Toronto theft spurs deterrent

By ROSS ROMANIUK, CITY HALL REPORTER

A Toronto fire truck theft has driven home Winnipeg's need for cutting-edge engine immobilizers on all emergency vehicles, says a local emergency response official.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service is pointing to Monday's theft -- which led to a chase with speeds of up to 100 km/h and collisions between the Toronto truck and two vehicles -- as proof of dangers looming without better security.

THEFT-PROOF

"In little more than a year, we've had four emergency vehicles taken -- two ambulances and two fire trucks," Winnipeg's deputy fire-paramedic chief, Ken Sim, said yesterday.

Winnipeg is on course to become what appears to be Canada's first city to equip firefighting vehicles with transmission locks which, at a price of about $300 per truck, would make them virtually theft-proof.

"That's what we're proposing to retrofit about 45 vehicles with -- the large pumpers and aerial ladders," Sim told the Sun.

"To our knowledge, nobody uses it yet. It's a different security device than what's currently offered. We would likely be the first."

The device is not complicated and could come with keypad operation, Sim said, adding his department is expecting a design from a manufacturer by next month for possible installation in May.

The Toronto theft, Sim said, appears to have come through a breach of the same regular keyless ignition used in Winnipeg fire vehicles.

Fire trucks generally don't start with a key and require ignition through a series of buttons pressed in sequence.

The driver somehow overcame the pumper's keyless ignition while parked at a north Toronto strip mall, then sped off with the vehicle.

The driver nearly lost control several times after hitting speed bumps. Police gave chase and took a man into custody after the truck was left at the side of a road.

The Toronto incident echoes the danger surrounding last month's theft of a fire truck from the site of a downtown Winnipeg blaze, which ended with the driver crashing into a tree and transit shelter on Sherbrook Street and virtually destroying the $650,000 vehicle.

http://winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2006/...499492-sun.html