A Guelph vehicle owner was threatened with a sharp object and pulled from their car in a business parking lot near Woolwich Street and Suffolk Street East on Thursday, August 20, 2026, according to the Guelph Police Service.
The incident happened at about 10:40 a.m. when a suspect approached the owner, commented on the vehicle and demanded the keys while holding a sharp object. When the owner refused and tried to get inside the car for safety, a struggle followed and the owner was pulled out. The suspect then got into the driver’s seat and drove away in a dark green older-model sedan.
The owner suffered minor injuries. The vehicle was last seen heading westbound on Suffolk Street toward Norfolk Street.
Police describe the suspect as a Black male, approximately 5’8″ with a medium build, weighing 135 to 145 pounds, with black hair and a goatee. He was wearing brown construction boots, grey and black shorts, a white crewneck sweater and a black bucket hat.
Anyone who sees the described vehicle or recognizes the suspect is asked to contact Const. Ashton Pilkey at 519-824-1212, ext. 7597, or email [email protected]. The occurrence number is GU26055837.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of vehicle thefts in Guelph. Earlier this year, police arrested a 26-year-old Toronto man in connection with 12 vehicle thefts, including seven Honda CRVs worth more than $600,000. According to the Guelph-based insurance company Co-operators, vehicle thefts in the city rose 12.4% in 2025 after a 29% drop the previous year, showing the problem is not going away.
