Ryan Bird Reports on Thefts in GO Transit Parking Lots

Inadequate security is being blamed for thefts and vandalism at GO Transit parking lots.

The Toronto Star says thieves are breaking into vehicles and stealing parts -- or even cars -- in broad daylight because there's no one patrolling the area regularly.

Listen to Ryan Bird's report

Gary McNeil, GO's managing director, tells the Star that he wants to be "much more pro-active," but he wouldn't say how.

McNeil also says GO is "looking at" increasing staff at some stations, and at improving the lighting situation -- but when the Star asked him about increasing parking security patrols, he cited "very scarce resources."

Last month, the Star reported on thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles parked at the Rouge Hill GO station in the Lawrence and Port Union Road area -- where many vehicles were targeted on June 4th.

GO responded by saying its parking lots are "quite safe," with an average of just 350 reported incidents of theft and vandalism annually in lots where a total of 12 million vehicles are parked per year.

At that time, the Star says many readers reported that things were a lot worse than that -- and thats when the paper decided to survey readers.