Ford government pledges millions for GTA police to battle vehicle thefts

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 27, 2023

The provincial government is pledging $18 million to help police forces in the GTA and elsewhere fight auto theft amid a significant recent spike in stolen cars in Ontario.

Premier Doug Ford announced the funding Friday, Nov. 24 at Peel Regional Police headquarters in Mississauga and said the money will help officers fight against auto theft and aide in breaking up organized crime rings authorities say are behind a spate of stolen vehicles in the last few years.

Twenty-one police services are getting part of the $18 million from the province over the next three years, including $900,000 each for Peel, Halton, Durham, York and Toronto police services.

A document from the province says the money will be used to boost crime-fighting measures focusing on “prevention, detection, analysis and enforcement” related to auto theft.

At the announcement, Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said Brampton and Mississauga had the highest rates of stolen cars in the province, with around 20 vehicles stolen a day last year.

He said data from the GTA and other police services in Ontario shows an 86 per cent spike in stolen vehicles since 2018.

“Canada is now a source country for stolen autos across this world,” he said. “This is an alarming trend supporting a host of other crimes.”

Police services in Barrie, South Simcoe, London and Hamilton are also among those set to receive funding from the province as part of the announcement.