Combatting Carjacking and Auto Theft
A total of 124 arrests were made, 749 charges laid, eight firearms seized and 177 stolen vehicles valued at over $10 million recovered during the Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force (PCJTF) that operated from September 2023 to March 2024 to combat the rising violence associated with auto crimes.
“This Joint Task Force exemplifies the commitment of GTA law enforcement to disrupt networks behind violent auto thefts and highlight the crucial role of collaboration in tackling issues that affect our communities,” said Toronto Police Service (TPS) Deputy Chief Rob Johnson at a news conference at police headquarters on June 25.
He, however, pointed out that law enforcement is just one part of the solution.
“It is concerning that 44 per cent of those arrested were out on bail at the time of their arrest and 61 per cent were subsequently released on bail,” said Johnson. “Auto theft remains one of the top revenue generators for organized crime and this challenge requires a collective effort. We will continue to collaborate with our partners in government, auto manufacturing, insurance and beyond to address this problem.”
In Toronto, 65 arrests were made, 463 charges laid and 81 vehicles recovered. A total of 36 of the 124 individuals arrested were young offenders and 47 per cent were re-offenders.
A total of 26 out of the 36 were released on bail and only 28 per cent remain custody.
Though the PCJTF has ended, TPS has set up a Toronto Carjacking Task Force to address auto theft crimes and will continue to work with law enforcement partners across the GTA.
“I want to extend my thanks to TPS members, our policing partners, especially our co-lead which is the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario for their unwavering dedication to this project,” added Johnson.
So far this year, nearly 4,829 vehicles have been stolen in the city which is a 28 per cent decrease from the same time in 2023.
There has been 149 carjackings in Toronto which is an 86 per increase from last year and 71 break and enter/home invasions where a vehicle was stolen. That is a three per cent decrease from the same time last year.
OPP Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns said law enforcement work is not done when it comes to carjacking enforcement.
“The OPP and our partners continue to follow intelligence generated from the outstanding work of the Provincial Carjacking Task Force,” he said. “Last March, the Task Force identified a criminal network responsible for numerous crimes, ranging from armed home invasions, store robberies, break and enters, vehicle thefts and violent carjackings.”
The OPP-led Provincial Auto Theft and Towing Team initiated Project Titanium that led to the recovery of 23 stolen vehicles worth about $5 million and the seizure of a loaded Glock firearm, stolen vehicle parts, money counters and approximately $2,000.
Search warrants executed in Toronto and Peel led to the arrest of eight individuals who face 103 charges.
“What is alarming about this investigation is that the vehicle thefts were not simply carried out in the middle of the night on an unoccupied target vehicle,” said OPP Detective Inspector Scott Wade. “Many of these thefts involved violence, some with forceful entry into homes with demands that owner’s hand over the keys to their vehicles. The investigation involved armed robberies, posing a significant risk to public safety.”
