Barrie police say they have recovered a stolen U-Haul truck within city limits but the person believed to be connected to the vehicle fled the scene before officers arrived.
Truck located on Bayfield Street, suspect not in custody
Investigators located the U-Haul on Monday afternoon in the area of Bayfield Street and Grove Street. Officers who attended the scene reported the suspect had already disappeared from the area by the time they arrived, and a subsequent canine track proved unsuccessful.
Police described the person of interest as wearing black shorts and a black shirt and said the individual was carrying a longboard at the time the truck was recovered. No further description or identifying details were released.
Police appeal to neighbours for footage
Police are asking for help from residents in the nearby streets. Specifically, anyone who was in the area of Drury Lane and may have captured camera footage — whether from a doorbell, security camera, dash cam or other device — is being asked to contact authorities. The appeal suggests investigators are looking to establish the suspect’s movements shortly before or after the truck was abandoned.
- Location of recovery: Bayfield Street and Grove Street (Barrie)
- Time frame: Monday afternoon
- Suspect description: Wearing black shorts and black shirt; carrying a longboard
- K9 search: Canine track attempted and unsuccessful
The recovery of a stolen vehicle in a residential area underlines the role local cameras and community vigilance play in assisting investigations. In Barrie and across Ontario, police often rely on footage supplied by neighbours to confirm timelines, identify suspects and piece together events when witnesses are not immediately available.
Local context and impact
Bayfield Street is a corridor that links several residential neighbourhoods and commercial strips in Barrie. A vehicle recovered there — and a search extended to nearby lanes such as Drury Lane — can temporarily increase visible police activity and concern among residents. While the investigation continues, police presence and inquiries of surrounding properties are reasonably expected as officers work to follow up on potential leads.
For people living or working in the area, typical next steps include checking home security recordings covering the timeframe of the incident and contacting police if they observed anyone nearby acting suspiciously or leaving the area on foot or by other means. Police did not provide a timeframe for when the truck was stolen originally, nor did they release details about any damage or further evidence found in the vehicle.
Officers did not indicate whether anyone was injured or whether the stolen U-Haul was connected to other incidents. With the suspect still at large, police continue to treat the matter as active and are following investigative leads.
How residents can help
Barrie police have asked anyone with relevant information or footage to contact authorities. Even small pieces of evidence — a time-stamped video clip, a plate seen nearby, or a description of movement — can be valuable in these investigations.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | Stolen U-Haul truck (recovered) |
| Recovery location | Bayfield St. & Grove St., Barrie |
| Suspect | Fled scene; described wearing black shorts and black shirt; carrying longboard |
| Canine track | Attempted; unsuccessful |
Anyone who may have information is asked to contact Barrie Police. Providing any video or other evidence that could assist the investigation will help officers build a clearer picture of what took place and potentially lead to an arrest.
