By Leyland Cecco
Publication Date: 2026-04-07 14:07:00
A dispute has broken out in one of Canada’s wealthiest neighborhoods over plans to create the country’s first “virtual community” using an AI-powered surveillance system to combat rising property crime.
Toronto’s overall crime rates are falling, but Rosedale residents are unnerved by a continued rise in home robberies, with robbers attacking the tree-lined neighborhood at more than double the city average. Burglaries and thefts remain the third highest rate per capita in Toronto.
The growing unrest is reflected in the community’s WhatsApp group, where 60 of around 350 members are already contributing to funding private security services.
“My friends have experienced a horrific home invasion here in the community – their children have been held at knifepoint and they will be traumatized for the rest of their lives. Other friends are not sleeping well at night because they are afraid of the impending crime,” said Craig Campbell, the…
