Toronto police charge 228 people, recover more than 1,000 vehicles worth $60 million in year-long probe

Toronto police have recovered more than 1,000 vehicles worth an estimated $60 million during a year-long investigation into the thefts of cars and catalytic converters in the city’s west end.

Toronto police have recovered more than 1,000 vehicles worth an estimated $60 million during a year-long investigation into the thefts of cars and catalytic converters in the city’s west end.

Dubbed “Project Stallion,” it was launched in on Nov. 7, 2022 and largely focused on neighbourhoods in Etobicoke in 22 and 23 Division. The probe concluded on Sept. 24.

During a Wednesday afternoon news conference at the Toronto Police College in Etobicoke, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw stood in front of five of the recovered vehicles to announce that police have laid 553 charges against 228 people, including several minors.

Police said vehicles, mostly high-end ones, were stolen from the driveways of homes, from hotel and airport parking lots, and from local attractions, like Woodbine Casino.

Project Stallion was supported by Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, a partnership between the provincial government and the law enforcement community that aims to identify and tackle organized crime across Ontario.

So far in 2023, Toronto police said they’re aware of 9,747 vehicles stolen in the city, including more than 3,500, which were stolen in 22 and 23 Divisions during the joint investigation.

Aside from releasing the probe’s final results, Demkiw also assured the public that the Toronto Police Service is “continuing to take action against rising auto thefts in our city.”