There are calls for a lifetime ban for the issuing of drivers licenses for convicted car thieves.
There are calls for City Council to impose a lifetime ban on the issuing of driver’s licenses to anyone convicted of vehicle thefts to curb the increasing crime.
There is also a motion for the City to request that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Federal Minister of Transportation John G. Abbott ban the export of all used automobiles out of Canadian ports, such as the Ports of Montreal and Vancouver.
The motions by Councillor Mike Colle will be considered by City Council on May 22.
More than 20 vehicles a week are stolen in the Etobicoke area with more than 12,000 in Toronto stolen last year.
“Car jackings and automobile thefts have more than doubled year to date in 2024,” according the motion being considered on April 30 by the Economic and Community Development Committee.
Toronto Police Services have reported that there have been 68 car jackings so far this year, which is an alarming 106 per cent increase over the same time period in 2023.
Auto thefts in 2023 topped 12,200 vehicles, an increase from 9,821 cars stolen in 2022.
Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) stolen from the U.S. are being used for cars stolen in Canada in a new trend by crooks.
At least 20 vehicles a week are stolen in the Etobicoke area, according to police.
In many cases the doors of homes are kicked in late at night and residents terrified by thieves with weapons demanding the keys for their cars parked in the driveway.
Thieves even place tracking devices to follow vehicles from shopping malls so they can be stolen. Some are even stolen on major streets by gun wielding crooks wearing masks.
“As the increase in car jackings demonstrates, auto thefts have become increasingly brazen and violent including break-and-enters related to auto theft,” the Committee was told.
There are even calls for the federal government to ban the sea shipping of used vehicles to curb the increasing thefts.
Councillors said car jackings “are on the rise and have already climbed to 34 incidents so far this year, eclipsing the 22 reported for all of 2023.”
“There is more that needs to be done to combat this urgent and escalating crisis,” according to the motion. “After unacceptable delays in action, the provincial and federal governments have finally begun the process to end this epidemic but we must act swiftly and decisively.”
Council was told the thefts are part of a network of organized crime, with vehicles being stolen and shipped internationally or to commit crimes here.
Police have their hands filled probing the increasing and brazen car thefts in Canada and the U.S.
They were told that the vulnerabilities of shipping ports have to be addressed along with the ‘antiquated anti-theft technologies offered by auto manufacturers.’
“More effective legislative action is required to act as a deterrent at the source – the criminals stealing the cars in the first place,” according to the motion.
It said the issues should ‘be deemed urgent due to the need for immediate action at all levels of government, and the need for stiffer penalties to crack down on these crimes.’
Police said a new trend shows that stolen vehicles are now being sold online by thieves with (Vehicle Identification Numbers) VIN numbers from U.S. jurisdictions, which do not show up on the Canadian police computer system.
Online buyers are being warned to check the VIN stickers of the vehicles being sold to see it has been tampered with or if it appears suspicious. If so call police.