A high end vehicle is stolen every 40 minutes in Toronto, where 12,000 vehicles were stolen last year.
Toronto’s top cop warns that car thieves are getting more bolder and violent and 12,000 vehicles were stolen in the city last year or about one every 40 minutes.
Chief Myron Demkiw told an anti-car theft summit in Ottawa that 34 vehicles are stolen in Toronto every day.
He said the theft of 12,000 cars in Toronto yearly amounted to about $790 million last year.
The Chief said home invasions and break and enters for auto theft occurrences rose 400 per cent last year, with a total of 202 incidents.
Police and industry officials held a summit in Ottawa to try to put an end to the car-theft crisis.
Carjackings have also seen a dramatic rise in Toronto, with 233 occurrences reported last year, the Chief said.
“That’s over 50 per cent of all incidents reported in the GTA,” he said. “Toronto has experienced a dramatic spike in auto thefts over the last several years – more, by far, than any other city in Canada.”
He said less than half of the stolen vehicles are recovered.
Demkiw said since 2018 Toronto police has recovered 46 per cent of stolen vehicles, totalling more than 20,000 vehicles, and have arrested 1,300 offenders and laid over 5,000 related charges.
Police said thieves can earn as much as $5,000 in quick cash from organized crime for every car they steal.
“I am very concerned about the escalation of violence, threats and intimidation, where all sorts of weapons and firearms are being used to steal vehicles,” he said.
Police are also concerned about the ability of the justice system to deal with repeat offenders.
“Whether it’s a carjacking or a home invasion, criminals are becoming increasingly brazen in their efforts to steal vehicles, and causing residents across Toronto an incredible amount of fear and anxiety,” the Chief warned.
He noted that it requires little skill to steal a vehicle and the thieves can get quick cash in return.
It is reported that the thieves can be paid as much as $5,000 by organized crime for every car they steal.
In most cases the stolen vehicles within hours are driven into containers and end up being sold around the world by criminal groups.
Less than half the stolen cars are ever recovered as most end up for resale overseas.
“Stealing cars is lucrative and the demand is incredibly high,” Demkiw noted. “Criminals migrate towards an easy pay day.”
Police here have created a Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force, with the support of the Government of Ontario, and co-led by the Toronto Police Service and the OPP.
He said all levels of government and private industries, including vehicle manufacturers, port authorities and shipping companies have to work together in a common goal of fighting organized crime and keeping our communities safe.
Car owners are again urged to secure their vehicles by locking them, to use a steering wheel bar lock, tracking devices, park in their garage, install security lights or cameras, and park their expensive cars behind others in the driveway.