Recently, a Chinese blogger initiated a popular topic on social media: "Why can't you call Uber in front of your own door in Canada?" This question sparked heated discussions and story sharing among countless Chinese netizens.

The responses in the comment section were diverse. Some shared their personal experiences, while others expressed how unpredictable things could be when going out. Regardless of the stories shared, almost all Chinese people came to a surprisingly consistent conclusion: "Don't! Especially when going to the airport, whether it's Uber, Lyft, or other ride-hailing apps, don't call them right in front of your house!"

For instance, an old overseas student A commented: "Absolutely not! My uncle's family was robbed after taking an Uber to the airport. They hadn't even passed through security checks when the alarm at home went off. As soon as they left, someone broke into their house."

Moreover, according to this old overseas student, her uncle's house is located near Toronto French School, which is considered one of the safer areas in Toronto, yet the burglars showed no fear.

Another Chinese netizen B also stated: "Be really careful. My house is also in a relatively safe 'rich area', but once I returned from a trip abroad, my house was completely ransacked. Although we installed security systems, they were useless. Now I'm afraid to live in a standalone house anymore..."

A netizen C who lives in a standalone house even shared a terrifying experience of taking a limo ride-hailing service to the airport. Just a minute after stepping outside, the anti-theft alarm at home rang. Fortunately, the husband was at home and promptly reported it, preventing the incident from escalating.

She recalled: "The driver confirmed if I was heading to the airport as soon as he got in the car and started making phone calls in his own language."

It seems that the driver was probably colluding with accomplices to break in. Since then, the netizen has chosen to meet the driver nearby and then quietly return home after the driver leaves.

Netizen D also recalled a strange experience of taking a cab: "Once I pulled a suitcase and took an Uber without saying much. Then the driver suddenly asked if I was going to the airport. When I said no and mentioned visiting a friend instead, he immediately stopped talking." Doesn't that sound chilling?

Not only do these narratives from Chinese netizens hold true, but Global News also reported a case where an Uber driver, Jackie Gordon Wilson, first dropped off a customer at the airport and then returned to the customer's address an hour later, attempting to forcibly break in and steal.

Luckily, the household had installed cameras and alarms. After triggering the alarm, Wilson had to leave the scene. However, he did not stop there; he went to another house and successfully broke in, stealing the valuables inside.

Luckily, many households in the area had surveillance equipment installed. The police quickly arrested Wilson.

Vancouver is a hotspot for burglary.

Burglary is very common in Canada, especially in densely populated cities.

For example, in Richmond, a city in Greater Vancouver where the proportion of Chinese people exceeds half, the crime activity map shows that from the beginning of 2025 to May 1st, 57 residential burglary cases have occurred; in 2024, the total number of such cases reached 223.

As for Vancouver, based on data calculated from the Vancouver Crime Map system (due to system restrictions, the total number cannot be displayed), within a 5-kilometer radius centered around West Broadway, as many as 45 residential burglary cases occurred in just the past four weeks.

Vancouver nightlife

Facing the above cases and data, "not taking taxis when traveling far" has long become an unspoken consensus among Chinese Canadians.

For instance, netizen E shared their travel and home protection tips: "When we travel far, we usually sneak away when no one is paying attention, moving our luggage into the car in advance. When it's time to leave, we quietly depart without telling anyone. If we're going to the airport, we usually have friends pick us up, keeping it as low-profile as possible."

However, for this "invisible mode of travel," netizen F pointed out that simply sneaking away quietly is not enough. Once the weekly trash disposal comes around, if your trash cans aren't taken out, people will immediately know you're not home!

Netizen G also chimed in: "That's right! One of my neighbors was away for three months and asked me to take out the trash every week. Sometimes she would even put some trash in herself to create the illusion that someone was home. She also set up automatic lighting for a few hours at night and sometimes played music remotely via a camera just to leave no opportunity for thieves."

In addition to the advice shared by netizens, the editor also summarized several tips for theft prevention when traveling far, for everyone's reference:

1. Avoid revealing information about being "away from home" on travel platforms. When taking a ride-hailing service, don't directly say "going to the airport" or "our whole family is leaving." You can say "going downtown" or "to a friend's place," blurring the itinerary. In conversations, avoid disclosing sensitive information such as being alone at home.

2. Create the illusion of "someone being home." Use timed lights, broadcasts, and music to make the house appear inhabited; ask neighbors to collect mail and clean fallen leaves from the doorstep; try to park a car in the driveway; avoid real-time "check-ins" on social media to expose your absence.

3. Strengthen security before traveling. Check if doors and windows are fully locked, especially in corners like balconies and basements; install surveillance cameras like Ring or Arlo and enable motion detection notifications; if no equipment is available, you can also post signs saying "24-hour monitoring here" for psychological deterrence.

4. When using ride-hailing services, consider walking to the corner of the street to call a cab to avoid exposing your exact address; after boarding, avoid discussing personal family matters with the driver; when packing for departure, avoid letting neighbors or strangers see.

5. Additional protective measures include storing valuable items like passports, jewelry, and cash in a bank safety deposit box; you can also ask trusted friends or relatives to periodically patrol, enter and exit the house, pull curtains, turn lights on and off, etc.; confirm before leaving that the home alarm system, batteries, and power supply are functioning properly.

In short, burglars usually target houses that look empty. Everything you do is to tell them: "Don't think about my house." Wishing everyone a safe and pleasant journey and a safe return!

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7503065002421617188/

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