Auto theft continues to grow in Canada’s largest city, with a car being stolen roughly every 40 minutes, Toronto’s top cop says.
More than 12,000 vehicles were stolen in Toronto last year, for an average of 34 car thefts per day, says Police Chief Myron Demkiw. Violent carjacking and auto theft-related home invasions are also on the rise, he said.
“We have had 68 carjackings so far in 2024. That’s a 106 percent increase compared to the same period last year,” Chief Demkiw said during a press conference on March 18.
“We are putting a significant amount of resources to address this citywide, and have seen an escalation of violence, threats and intimidation, where weapons are being used to steal vehicles.”
He said break and enter-related auto thefts have also risen dramatically, with 34 such incidents reported this year compared to 22 for all of 2023. Toronto police said in a press release on March 13 that such incidents have jumped 400 percent since last year.
The Toronto Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police last fall formed the Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force (PCJTF) to tackle violent auto thefts. So far, the unit has arrested 121 “suspects,” laid 730 charges, and recovered 157 stolen vehicles, Chief Demkiw said.
Theft Prevention
Toronto police and their response to auto theft have been under the microscope since an officer at an Etobicoke community meeting last month suggested residents leave their keys in a faraday bag by the front door to reduce the threat of violent home invasions.“To prevent the possibility of being attacked in your home, leave your fobs at your front door,” Const. Marco Ricciardi said. “Because they’re breaking into your home to steal your car. They don’t want anything else.”
The social media backlash was both mocking and incredulous with many suggesting police weren’t doing their jobs.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also weighed in. When questioned about the officer’s advice during a press event last week, he equated it with leaving a treat out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
“I just didn’t understand the answer,” Mr. Ford said. “We might as well leave cookies and milk at the front door along with a note. ‘Dear Mr. Criminal, the keys are in the mailbox, don’t kick my door in.'”
The Toronto Police Service said in a post on X last week that while the officer’s advice was “well meaning, there are better ways to prevent auto theft-motivated home invasions.” The post also offered a link to the service’s list of auto theft and home invasion prevention tips.
Chief Demkiw listed a few of those tips at the press conference, saying residents should park their vehicles in the garage whenever possible as well as use “good thinking in your own environment” by cutting hedges back, and making sure outdoor areas are well lit.
Auto theft has become a major issue in large urban areas across Canada. The acceleration in thefts since 2021 prompted a meeting of political leaders, law enforcement, and industry stakeholders in the nation’s capital last month to discuss ways to stem the number of cars being stolen and shipped abroad.
Much of the auto theft in Canada stems from organized crime, the government said in a recent press release, which described the operations as “highly lucrative” and “highly sophisticated” with rings operating coast to coast.
