Riley Mulvihill was startled awake by a loud crash in the dead of night. She discovered masked individuals attempting to break the glass window next to her Toronto residence’s front door.
According to data from the Toronto police, the number of individuals falling victim to home invasions reached a peak in 2024 with 231 victims from 149 incidents. Although the figures decreased in 2025 to 183 victims across 93 incidents, the numbers have shown an increase this year compared to the same period last year.
Mulvihill attributes the thwarting of the intruders in February to the security film she had installed on her front windows.
Security film, which toughens window glass to resist breakage, is among the measures Mulvihill and other Toronto homeowners have adopted to fortify their properties against the surge in home invasions.
In response to residents’ apprehensions, city councillors Dianne Saxe and Rachel Chernos Lin put forth and approved a proposal to have the Toronto police generate a report on home invasions and their strategies to combat the surge in these criminal activities.
Insp. Kristy Smith from the Toronto police’s hold-up squad presented to the police board in April on the topic of home invasions and break-ins primarily aimed at stealing vehicles. Project AEGIS was initiated by her unit earlier this year to address the uptick in these crimes in specific divisions, leading to increased police presence to deter and disrupt such activities.
Mulvihill, having fortified her windows with security film and implemented various security enhancements, stresses the need for collective action and increased resources for law enforcement to tackle the escalating issue of home invasions.
Experts note a surge in demand for window security film in the Greater Toronto Area, indicating heightened concerns among residents regarding home security. Julian Herzberg, owner of Home Security Consultants, emphasizes the effectiveness of security film in providing affordable protection against break-ins, highlighting its deterrence factor due to the limited time intruders have for entry.
Herzberg links the rise in home invasions to the aftermath of the pandemic and emphasizes the necessity for a concerted response to safeguard communities. Mulvihill echoes the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing family safety over material possessions and calling for proactive measures to address the escalating security threats.