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Cameras Catch Criminals, Bollards Stop Them: Why Ontario Needs Both

Driveway bollards installed in Toronto residential home

Premier Doug Ford’s recent proposal to introduce surveillance cameras in Ontario communities to combat car thefts and home invasions represents an important step in addressing rising property crime. However, while cameras are valuable for identifying suspects after crimes occur, they do nothing to prevent the crime itself. For complete protection, Ontario homeowners and businesses need a two-layered approach: cameras that record and driveway bollards that prevent.

The Premier’s Vision for Crime-Fighting Cameras

Speaking at a press conference in Hamilton, Ford announced his intention to introduce “cameras on crime” in willing communities across Ontario. The premier specifically mentioned York Region, parts of Etobicoke, Peel Region, Halton, and Durham as areas “getting hammered” by crime. Ford suggested these cameras could help identify stolen cars and assist police in responding to home invasions.

The cameras would cost approximately $15,000 each and would only be installed in communities that approve their use. Ford emphasized respect for community choice, stating: “If you don’t want cameras for security reasons then we won’t put it in. We’ll only put those cameras in if the city or the town wants it in, and then the community has to give a green light as well.”

York Regional Police have already expanded their CCTV systems to help detect stolen licence plates, demonstrating the potential effectiveness of surveillance technology when properly deployed.

The Critical Gap in Surveillance-Only Security

While Ford’s camera initiative addresses evidence collection and suspect identification, it doesn’t address the fundamental problem: preventing crimes from happening in the first place. Surveillance cameras are reactive tools that document criminal activity but do nothing to physically stop thieves from accessing vehicles or property.

Consider the reality of a typical driveway car theft. Cameras may capture clear footage of suspects, their vehicle, and their methods. This evidence can be valuable for investigations and prosecutions. However, by the time police review the footage and begin their investigation, your vehicle is already gone, potentially on its way to an overseas shipping container. Recovery rates for stolen vehicles remain disappointingly low, even with video evidence.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada reports that auto theft claims in Ontario reached $1 billion in 2023, highlighting the scale of the problem that surveillance alone cannot solve.

Physical Barriers: The First Line of Defense

Driveway bollards represent the preventive complement to Ford’s surveillance strategy. While cameras document what happens, bollards ensure nothing happens in the first place. This distinction is critical for property owners who want actual protection rather than just evidence collection after victimization.

Bollards create physical impossibility rather than deterrence through detection. Thieves caught on camera may still successfully steal your vehicle before being identified. Thieves confronted by bollards cannot drive off with your vehicle regardless of their skills, tools, or determination. The crime stops before it starts.

This preventive approach eliminates the trauma, inconvenience, and financial burden that victims experience even when stolen vehicles are eventually recovered. You avoid insurance claims, deductible payments, rental car expenses, and the disruption to your daily life that vehicle theft creates.

The Ideal Security Strategy: Prevention Plus Documentation

The most effective security approach combines both technologies. Driveway bollards prevent unauthorized vehicle access while cameras document any attempted breaches, providing evidence if criminals damage property or attempt to defeat physical barriers. This layered security gives you both prevention and prosecution capabilities.

For businesses, this combination is particularly powerful. Physical barriers protect inventory, equipment, and storefronts from vehicle-related incidents while surveillance systems monitor overall property security, employee safety, and customer interactions. Together, they create comprehensive protection that addresses both immediate threats and long-term liability concerns.

The Toronto Police Service’s auto theft prevention guidance emphasizes multiple security layers, recognizing that no single measure provides complete protection.

Cost-Effective Protection for Homeowners

While Ford’s proposed cameras carry a $15,000 price tag for municipalities, individual homeowners can install professional driveway bollard systems for $1,000-$2,000. This makes physical barriers accessible to ordinary families rather than depending entirely on government surveillance initiatives that may or may not reach their neighborhood.

The economics are compelling: a one-time bollard installation cost represents a tiny fraction of your vehicle’s value while providing permanent protection that works 24/7 without monitoring fees, maintenance costs, or dependence on police response times.

Ready to complement Ontario’s surveillance initiatives with physical protection that actually prevents crime? Contact Bollard Boys GTA today for a quote on driveway security that works before criminals strike. While we support Premier Ford’s camera initiative, we believe your first priority should be preventing crimes rather than documenting them. Our bollard installations provide the proactive protection that keeps your vehicles secure and your family safe.