An aide to Ward 44 Councillor Ron Moeser (Scarborough East) Thursday, Jan. 10 asked police to step up patrols of the parking lot at Glen Rouge campground after at least seven cars were broken into over the last couple of weeks.
Constituent assistant Peter Dawson planned to raise the concerns at a community policing meeting for 43 Division Thursday.
"I do consider it and so does the councillor consider it a big concern because it sounds like people (thieves) are waiting 'till people leave (the parking lot) and are walking their dogs," Dawson said.
"We take that kind of thing seriously."
The break-ins were brought to the attention of Moeser's office by retired Scarborough resident Fred Vinzenz, who regularly hikes with his wife in the campground on Kingston Road just east of Port Union Road.
Fellow walkers have told him seven vehicles have been robbed since mid- to late-December. Hikers, many of them walking their dogs, suspect thieves wait until they leave the parking lot before smashing their windows and stealing valuables from their cars.
"One guy we call the Mushroom Man, he has a beagle and collects wild mushrooms, he told us about (the robberies) first," Vinzenz said.
"Three or four cars had been broken into. It was mostly women. We (the hikers) all get to know each other and we talk to each other."
Earlier this week, Vinzenz spoke to one woman who was shaken to return to her car to find her windows broken and her purse stolen.
Dawson suggested there may have been more than seven break-ins, which Vinzenz hasn't been made aware of or have not been reported to police.
Moeser, who was sending Dawson to represent him at Thursday night's meeting because he had another commitment, said he has made police aware of the break-ins and is confident officers will step up patrols of the parking lot.
"Seven break-ins are very substantial. I (also) want to find out the history. Has this happened before because sometimes (thieves) target certain areas until the policing gets substantial?" he said.
"We want to keep the parks accessible for our residents. It's such a beautiful area down there."
Vinzenz said the break-ins haven't scared him away from visiting the park, where he hikes several times a week.
He just wants to warn the public about the possible theft ring.
"It's not a physical danger. I know it happens in shopping centres and malls. You don't expect it when you go for a walk in the Rouge," he said.
"I just want to make them aware not to leave their valuables in your can or car or vehicle."