Eighty stolen vehicles worth more than $5 million have been recovered and 56 arrests have been made since York Regional Police launched a seven-week investigation in September to crack down on increasing auto thefts in the region.
Operation Auto Guard targeted auto theft with a combined campaign of crime prevention efforts and enforcement in the southern end of York Region and also resulted in 284 offences being laid, police announced at a news conference this morning.
Theft devices used by thieves were also seized.
Auto theft has increased in York Region more than 200 per cent over the last five years, police said.
As of Dec. 4, 4,294 vehicles have been stolen in York Region, compared to 3,187 in 2022.
"Thieves operate across the region, the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario and Canada, in organized crime groups, stealing the vehicles then shipping them overseas,” police said. “The cost of these thefts is estimated to be more than $1 billion across the country.”
Crime analysts created heat maps identifying specific neighbourhoods prone to vehicle thefts in the region and were able to identify residences in these red zones with high-risk vehicles registered to their owners, police said.
“This allowed us to approach homeowners directly, letting them know they are at risk of having their vehicles stolen, offering them safety tips and giving them the opportunity to take an active role in crime prevention,” police said.
Along with the enforcement efforts, York Regional Police handed out cards with crime prevention tips and gave away more than 24,000 Faraday bags, used to block the signal-duplicating devices that replicate key fobs.
During the operation, police attended more than 100 locations, where they educated citizens on auto thefts and how to prevent them and protect themselves.
“We recognize we need multiple strategies across all levels of government, law enforcement, community agencies and our citizens to end auto thefts,” said Chief Jim MacSween.
While the Operation Auto Guard initiative has concluded, Michael Kerzner, Ontario’s Solicitor General, announced $900,000 in grants for York Regional Police to go toward the fight against auto theft in the community.
