A cross-province police investigation targeting auto thefts has led to the arrest of 34 people, Ontario police say.
The Ontario Provincial Police launched the investigation in tandem with Sûreté du Québec and Montréal police, called Project Volcano, aimed at quashing the rise in auto thefts.
All of the arrests were of people who’d previously been charged by Ontario police and released with a court date.
“The accused failed to appear for court purposes or violated their release conditions, resulting in warrants being issued for their arrests,” said deputy commissioner Marty Kearns during a press conference in Hawkesbury, Ont.
“Project Volcano was an initiative to bring these such individuals before the courts to ensure they answer to the charges laid against them.”
All arrests were made by OPP.
According to Kearns, many of those arrested were wanted for other “serious offences,” unrelated to their auto theft crimes, like possession of a loaded firearm, impaired driving, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
“Several serious motor vehicle collisions have resulted from these incidents, putting the lives of our police officers and the lives of members of the public at significant risk,” he added.
Violent carjackings in the Greater Toronto Area increased by 206% between 2021 and 2023, noted Kearns, many of which involved home invasions that resulted in injury and death.
Last week, a constable with the Toronto Police Service caused a stir over comments made during a community meeting that residents should leave their keys accessible to auto thieves as a means to prevent them from being harmed in a home invasion.
Kearns confirmed that almost 3,000 vehicles have been stolen in the last seven weeks in Ontario alone.
Police made 121 arrests since last year, leading to 730 charges laid, with 157 vehicles now recovered.
“Auto theft is impacting Ontarians at an unprecedented rate,” said Kearns.. “What is also concerning is the speed with which criminals are able to steal vehicles, often using methods to defeat existing anti-theft technology.”
According to Supt. Joe Goodwin of the OPP’s professional intelligence bureau, the majority of the vehicles stolen in Ontario are then transported to Quebec to be shipped off further.
“They were either driven across the provincial boundaries or brought to Québec by transport truck or by rail,” said Goodwin.
“Many were stolen from the GTA, but this is an issue that impacts all of our jurisdictions. In most cases, they were destined to be illegally exported through the Port of Montréal.”
The federal government has committed $28 million to the Canada Border Security Agency to combat the export of stolen vehicles. The money will allow agents to inspect shipping containers for stolen vehicles, the government said.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said he’s prepared to crack down on auto theft and illicit exports of vehicles if he’s elected prime minister.
“After eight years of Justin Trudeau, car thefts are up 300% in Toronto and 100% in Ottawa and Montreal. Nationally, car thefts are up by more than a third since his Liberal government took office,” said Poilievre, while speaking at the Port of Montreal last month. .
“Canadian cars are being stolen at historically high rates, many of which are being shipped overseas,” he added.
Auto thefts across Canada have gotten so bad that residents in some higher-income areas have started hiring private security to patrol their neighbourhoods.
Plus, there has been a dramatic spike in auto insurance premiums.
“It’s important to note these dramatic losses have fallen squarely on the shoulders of Canada’s insurers,” said the Insurance Bureau of Canada in a recent statement. “At the end of the day, premiums follow claims costs.”
Premiums on commonly stolen models have increased anywhere from 25% to 50% since 2022, according to data from Rates.ca, a website that aggregates insurance pricing.
Certain models now come with a $500 high-theft vehicle surcharge.
For example, the average 35-year-old Toronto male resident with no prior convictions paid 26% more to insure his Honda CR-V in 2023 compared to what it would cost in 2022.