Police calling on federal government to consider car theft a 'national crisis'
CTV
Police are calling on the federal government to create a 'national action plan' to combat auto theft as it becomes increasingly violent, raising concerns at the Annual Auto Theft Summit in Peel Region.
Police are calling on the federal government to create a "national action plan" to combat auto theft as it becomes increasingly violent, raising concerns at the Annual Auto Theft Summit in Peel Region.
"The nature of these auto thefts is, as we have seen now, shifting to things like home invasions, carjackings and the use of illegal firearms," said Nishan Duraiappah, Chief of Police of Peel Regional Police.
Peel Region is now considered the auto theft capital of Canada, causing concern for Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown.
"Because of the funds at stake north of $1.2 billion, criminal organizations are going to extreme lengths to seize upon this," said Brown.
More than 150 representatives from across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, including law enforcement agencies, insurance officials, auto manufacturers, and car dealers, took part in the gathering to tackle the surge in car thefts.
According to collective data from Ontario's major police forces, there has been a 116 per cent increase in stolen vehicles since 2019.
Officials are trying to show they're making progress. In that same time frame, they recovered more than 15,000 vehicles valued at $545 million.
