‘I think it’s crazy’: Toronto home invasion victim slams advice from police officer

A Toronto man who says his wife was nearly shot during a break-in earlier this week has reacted to controversial and now infamoushome invasion prevention advice from a police officer, calling it “a sad state of affairs.”

Peter, who Global News agreed to identify by first name only for safety concerns, spoke out Friday after experiencing a break-in at his home in the city’s east end early Tuesday.

The interview came after a Toronto police officer made headlines for his suggestion that residents leave their car keys by the front door to avoid a home invasion, seemingly to let criminals more easily steal their vehicle without confrontation.

The officer made the comments at a community meeting in Etobicoke last month.

While noting that police have always urged citizens to prioritize safety over a vehicle, the Toronto Police Service has since tried to walk back the officer’s remarks by highlighting other auto theft and home invasion prevention tips.

“I think it’s crazy. I think it’s hugely flawed,” Peter said of the officer’s controversial statement, which has drawn sharp criticism on social media and also from Premier Doug Ford.

“It’s kind of a sad state of affairs.”

Peter said he found the advice “highly unusual.”

“The solution of accepting the fact that my vehicle will be stolen … accepting the fact that my house be broken into, is not a good solution,” he said.

The Toronto Police Service has said home invasions and break-ins related to auto thefts rose 400 per cent last year.

Peter said he has spent a lot of time and money to protect his vehicle, including installing a steering wheel lock and a special software system.

He said even if a criminal had easy access to his car keys, they wouldn’t have been able to start the vehicle due