Toronto, Ontario — The Ontario government is spending $18 million over the next three years to fund projects intended to fight auto theft, Premier Doug Ford announced on November 24.
The money to fund these projects will come through a preventing auto thefts grant, according to a news release accompanying the announcement.
This grant money will fund 21 police projects that feature “new and enhanced crime-fighting measures” that target the prevention, detection, analysis and enforcement of auto thefts, the province says.
The province’s proposed grant was initially announced in May, although the amount of the grant was not released at the time.
Rising auto theft continues to be a provincial concern. In the first half of 2023, there were 5,077 vehicles reported as stolen in Toronto alone.
Specific funding from the grant will go to projects such as: buying specialized surveillance equipment, software and tracking devices; training police on skills specific to auto theft; creating new units dedicated to auto theft and organized crime; and fostering partnerships with local car dealerships, the Insurance Bureau of Canada and the Canadian Automobile Association to work on prevention strategies.
The province hopes that these measures will help to significantly reduce vehicle thefts while also bolstering automotive dealership security.
