Isabel Mosseler
Tribune
Carmen and Benoit Marcoux of Verner returned from a blissful Jamaican getaway to face a startling reality — their new Dodge Ram 1500 Limited Edition truck with all the bells and whistles, purchased in October of 2023, had been stolen from a park and fly service at Toronto’s Quality Inn and Suites. What was meant to be a relaxing vacation turned into a nightmare as the couple grappled with the aftermath of the theft and its broader implications. Carmen Marcoux recounts the disbelief and shock they experienced upon discovering their truck was missing: “I thought he was pulling my leg, I said, ‘Come on,’ he said, ‘I’m telling you, the truck is not there.’” Their journey back home quickly turned into a flurry of police reports, insurance claims, and unanswered questions.
The incident shed light on the vulnerabilities of park and fly services, prompting the Marcoux to question the security measures in place. “We’ll never go there again. Never ever, ever,” Carmen vows. The false sense of security provided by these facilities came crashing down as they realized the ease with which their vehicle was stolen from the outdoor parking lot.
There was security footage over the period of their stay, but Carmen discovered that it wasn’t likely the police would be reviewing a week’s worth of video. She and her husband offered to review the footage, but hotel staff refused. “We weren’t allowed. She said we can’t do that. That’s illegal. We can give it to the police, and we can give it to the insurance company, but we can’t give it to an individual because you’re seeing stuff from other people on there.” This response only added to their sense of helplessness in the face of what appears to be organized crime. In this case, a staff person reviewed the most recent video on their behalf and found out the truck “was stolen February 5th and it was two individuals. So, they stole it at 3:00 a.m. in the morning, and we arrived at the hotel at 10:30 at night on the same day.”
Beyond the personal toll, the theft also has broader implications for the community. These thefts result in higher insurance rates for all policy holders in Ontario, with an additional premium on those vehicles the criminals favour – like the Dodge Ram. While most thefts occur in larger centres, people in West Nipissing have been receiving letters from their insurers advising of a special rate increase if your vehicle is on the list of most stolen vehicles. Carmen emphasizes that these are not victimless crimes, as everyone will end up paying. “It’s not just the people whose cars are being stolen that their rates are going up. It’s everybody’s rates that are going up to cover those costs,” she points out.
The prevalence of vehicle thefts and the need for stronger measures to combat organized crime became topics of local discussion in the wake of the Marcoux’s ordeal. Carmen expressed concerns about the organized nature of these thefts and the possible involvement of hotel staff in facilitating such crimes. “It’s the people working at these places… They’re involved with those people that steal the vehicles and they’ll let them know,” she suspects.
Carmen relates how she walked around to see if she could find their truck and saw a man walking around some of the vehicles. “There was another Dodge Ram almost where he was walking around and when he saw me, he went into the other parking lot of the other hotel next door.” She suspects he was casing the parking lots for vehicles to steal. It was a creepy situation, she describes, and it left her leery. She advises travelers not to assume their vehicle is safe when left at a park and fly hotel.
