Carjackings are terrifying, dangerous, and can happen in seconds. Across Ontario, law enforcement agencies are looking for safe and effective ways to address the concerning spike in incidents this year.
According to the Toronto Police Service (TPS), the city had at least 94 carjackings in the first five months of 2022, compared to 102 for all of 2021. Many of the incidents have involved the use of weapons and physical violence, and the list of victims includes Toronto Maple Leaf’s winger Mitch Marner, who was robbed of his Range Rover at gunpoint outside a movie theatre in Etobicoke this May.
North of Toronto, York Regional Police claim carjackings have doubled since 2019. While several major initiatives have led to many arrests and hundreds of recovered vehicles, officers say suspects are developing new methods to accomplish these crimes.
However, as criminals adapt, so is law enforcement. According to a report by BlueLine, drone technologies are providing police with a viable alternative to traditional operational methods. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are less expensive to operate than helicopters and other aircraft; they are easily transferable between sites and can effectively maneuver within various environments, including urban neighborhoods and forested areas.
For Canadian drone companies like Draganfly, the objective is to develop comprehensive Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs that help officers reduce response times, increase situational awareness, and improve overall efficiency during critical missions.
The company has a long and proud history of supporting police and EMS services globally. For more than two decades, Draganfly has developed cutting-edge drone solutions, software, and artificial intelligence (AI) systems that continue to improve public safety.
In 2009, the Draganflyer X6 helped Ontario Provincial Police’s Forensic Identification Unit collect evidence in a homicide investigation. This marked the first time a commercial UAV was used in emergency services in North America.
Four years later, Draganfly’s Draganflyer X4-ES was credited as the first drone to save a human life. Equipped with an infrared camera, the UAV helped the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) locate an injured driver in a heavily wooded area in Saskatchewan.
Without the Draganflyer X4-ES, further search and rescue efforts would have been delayed until the following morning – dramatically affecting the victim’s chance of survival. To commemorate the heroic rescue, the drone remains on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Following this important milestone, Draganfly has continued to develop versatile, North American-made drone solutions to meet the needs of first responders.
During a carjacking, police departments can quickly deploy the company’s Surveillance and Reconnaissance Drone from their rooftop to the scene. Equipped with high-resolution RGB and infrared cameras, Draganfly’s Commander 3 XL Drone can help officials identify suspects in real-time and determine if they are armed before ground crews arrive.
Watch: Draganfly Launches New North American-made Commander 3 XL Drone
Access to this information is crucial for the officers responding to the carjacking. When these robberies do not go as planned, armed suspects could discharge their firearms to ensure they do not lose the vehicle.
In June, Barrie Police reported that a 25-year-old man was rushed to a Toronto trauma centre with a “serious, but non-life-threatening upper body gunshot wound.” The victim attempted to drive away from an armed teenage suspect who wanted to steal his car.
When victims urgently need medical assistance, Draganfly’s Commander 3 XL Drone can be deployed to ensure that automated external defibrillators (AEDs), EpiPens, and other time-sensitive supplies are available at the scene. The high-endurance UAV can drop and winch-down systems that can transport up to 26 pounds for approximately 20 minutes. Its weather-resistant design also ensures strong performance in both light rain and snow.
Concerned about the recent carjacking surge, Toronto Mayor John Tory reached out to the provincial and federal governments for assistance. In an open letter to the federal ministers of transportation and public safety, Ontario’s solicitor general, and the province’s minister of finance, Tory said all levels of government need to work together with law enforcement to improve public safety.
TPS launched its Organized Crime Investigative Support Team just days after the letter. Made up of investigators from different ranks and civilian support staff, the team is focused on carjackings, auto thefts, kidnappings, and other organized crimes that “fall outside the mandate of the Service’s other established investigative units.”
Former TPS Homicide Detective Mark Mendelson told CP24 that he believes carjackings might be on the rise because these thefts are “easier than using technology to steal key fobs from inside a home to unlock parked vehicles.” He added that incidents usually occur in 30 seconds, and suspects are not particularly worried about witnesses.
With carjackings across the province becoming more brazen, such incidents endanger the safety of neighborhoods and put lives at risk. Drone solutions such as Draganfly’s Commander 3 XL and Surveillance and Reconnaissance Drones can help officers reduce response times, increase situational awareness, and improve overall efficiency.
To learn more about Draganfly’s products and services, please visit www.draganfly.com.
