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Vehicle theft tops 6,700 as Toronto cops set to announce arrests

Both vehicle theft and carjackings are both hitting record highs across the GTA

A screengrab from home surveillance video released by Toronto Police early in 2022 shows carjackers backing out of a driveway as two victims look on with a stolen vehicle.
A screengrab from home surveillance video released by Toronto Police early in 2022 shows carjackers backing out of a driveway as two victims look on with a stolen vehicle. Photo by Toronto Police /YouTube

With vehicle theft in Toronto skyrocketing by 44 per cent so far in 2022, police say they will be announcing some arrests Tuesday as they update city-wide efforts to combat a surging problem.

There have been 6,704 vehicles stolen in the city so far this year.

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There were 4,657 in all of 2021.

In just the month of September, there were 843 vehicle thefts – the worst month of the year so far.

At police headquarters, Inspector Rich Harris will be briefing the media Tuesday afternoon.

The most recent carjacking was reported to police Sept. 26 near Warden Ave. and Bamburgh Cir.

There were allegedly three suspects involved, a firearm was seen, and a vehicle was stolen.

In that incident there were no reported injuries.

Throughout the year, investigators have urged people to be aware of their surroundings.

They also recommend that anyone targeted by carjackers surrender their vehicle and call police.

In May, Toronto Police put $2.3 million into a special force to tackle vehicle thefts and carjackings.

The new effort came as carjackings – usually involving weapons – surged throughout the year as drivers were forced to give up their vehicles.

Cops note carjacking incidents and auto thefts are different.

A carjacking has an element of violence during the actual theft of the vehicle, making it a robbery.

A theft involves no violence or threat and on many occasions no victim is present.

  1. A York Regional Police vehicle.

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  2. Toronto Police Mounted Unit officers investigating recent criminal activity in the area of Sherway Gardens Plaza stopped a suspect vehicle at gunpoint on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, but the car's occupants were cleared and allowed to drive away without any charges.

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  3. Durham Regional Police's Air1.

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Police across the GTA have been working together in an effort to stamp out the problem.

In August, the non-profit Équité Association said there have been 1,193 stolen vehicles recovered in 2021 – valued at over $45.6 million at the ports of Montreal and Halifax.

Équité supports Canadian insurers to try to eradicate fraud and crime.

Every year it also publishes a list of the most stolen vehicles.

“Vehicle fraud and crime hurts many communities locally and globally, which is then further funding organized crime and terrorism,” said Bryan Gast, Vice President, Investigative Services at Équité in August.

“Reselling stolen vehicles has become a much more lucrative business for criminal enterprises.”

slaurie@postmedia.com