GTA car thieves kept stealing, found new loopholes in 2024

In May, the Ford government announced auto theft had gotten so bad that it would bring in a harsh new penalty; convicted thieves would have their driver's licence suspended for 10 years.

"Driving is a privilege, not a right. If you're shameful enough to prey on other members of the community for your own reckless gain, you'll lose that privilege," Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said. 

But as of Dec. 10, the Ministry of the Attorney General confirmed Bill 197, which included the licence suspension measure, "has not been proclaimed into force yet."

Auto thefts, meanwhile, continue to dominate headlines as governments, police forces and regular citizens alike scramble to figure out how to put a stop to the problem.

Here's a look at some of the most-read auto theft stories from CBC Toronto in 2024 — from brazen thefts to the vulnerabilities thieves are still taking advantage of:

Kristin Shensel, whose car was stolen three times in the past year and who had a rental car stolen too, says nobody is taking the problem seriously enough.

The Toronto woman told CBC Toronto that until vehicle theft affects the bottom line of insurance companies, car manufacturers and rental car agencies, she doesn't think it will be solved.

The fight against Canada's worst-ever auto theft epidemic has largely focused on ramping up inspections at shipping ports, where organized crime groups have exported the overwhelming majority of stolen vehicles.

But criminals are adapting, police say, by increasingly selling hot vehicles in Canada to unsuspecting buyers with little protection, and exploiting a weakness in provincial registration systems that veteran investigators argue needs to be fixed.

"The market is so lucrative, it's easy cash," Det.-Sgt. Greg O'Connor of Peel Regional Police told CBC's David Common.

"I'm not very happy that someone can't get off their heinie and open the container," a frustrated Michael Walker told CBC Toronto. A tracking company had zeroed in on the location of his truck — about 30 kilometres from his home. 

Finally after CBC reached out to police, CN and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), authorities opened the container, revealing Walker's 2023 Toyota Tacoma inside.

It had been 17 days since Walker reported it stolen.

Peel Regional Police released stunning security camera showing a woman run over a man while allegedly stealing his Porsche SUV in Mississauga.