Ontario Invests $51 Million to Combat Auto Theft in the Province

The province of Ontario has been grappling with a concerning surge in auto theft, as evidenced by the alarming statistic of a car being stolen every 48 minutes on average. Unfortunately, this issue is even more pronounced in the city of Toronto, where vehicle thefts have increased by a staggering 81% between 2014 and 2021, and violent carjackings have jumped by 78% from 2021 to 2022. To address this concerning trend, the provincial government has announced a series of measures designed to combat auto theft and dismantle organized crime networks responsible for these crimes.

One of the key initiatives is a $51-million investment to establish the Organized Crime Towing and Auto Theft Team, which will be led by the Ontario Provincial Police. Drawing upon the success of the OPP-led joint forces operation team launched in 2021, the task force will work closely with municipal police services to crack down on auto theft. Additionally, a new team of prosecutors known as the Major Auto Theft Prosecution Response Team will be dedicated to supporting the OPP in handling criminal cases involving auto theft as they make their way through the courts.

The government is also offering safety grants to OPP, municipal, and First Nations police services to support their efforts in the fight against auto theft. Successful applicants will receive extra tools, resources, and support to help them combat this type of crime more effectively. These measures are intended to take apart criminal organizations responsible for auto theft and bring their members to justice.

Sadly, the problem of auto theft in Ontario has continued to worsen, with a 72% increase in thefts reported between 2014 and 2021, and a further 14% increase in 2022 alone. Therefore, urgent action is needed to address this issue and protect citizens from becoming victims of this type of crime.