With a jump in vehicle thefts and carjackings, the Ontario government is investing $51-million over three years to crack down on auto theft.
"Our government is taking bold action against a serious and often violent crime where high-tech criminals operate in tightly organized networks," said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner announcing new measures on Wednesday morning.
The funding will create a new Organized Crime Towing and Auto Theft Team led by the Ontario Provincial Police and a new Major Auto Theft Prosecution Response Team to bring complex cases to court.
"We need a strong approach across the justice sector to stop the rise in auto thefts," said Attorney General Doug Downey. "Our auto theft focus will support our ongoing efforts to ensure communities remain safe and that we hold offenders accountable."
The prosecution teams will include court support staff and resources. The government said they are the first of their kind.
The Organized Crime Towing and Auto Theft Team will identify and dismantle organized criminal networks.
OPP, municipal, and First Nations police services can apply for funding for extra tools and resources to prevent auto theft. They can use the money for public awareness campaigns or technology to identify stolen vehicles.
The Guns and Gangs Violence Reduction Strategy will get another $13.4-million to target vehicle theft rings. The government is also exploring working with the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency to prevent illegal vehicle exports.
"While vehicle theft is not new, the frequency of these incidents and the level of involvement of organized criminal networks represent a new and evolving threat," said OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique.
According to the government, a car is stolen every 48 minutes in Ontario. There was a 72 per cent increase in auto thefts between 2014 and 2021, an increase of 14 per cent in the last year.
