York Regional Police launch new campaign to tackle auto theft

York Regional Police say they have launched a new campaign to cut down on auto theft that will use data to to pinpoint areas where vehicles are being stolen.

Auto Guard 2.0 will use a "multi-pronged approach" of targeted enforcement, community engagement and crime prevention strategies, according to York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween.

Its focus will be the south end of York Region, which includes Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham.

The campaign will involve elements from the previous Operation Auto Guard, which aimed last year to disrupt organized crime groups that steal vehicles then ship them overseas, MacSween said to reporters in Richmond Hill on Wednesday.

"The brazen and violent nature of auto theft has escalated due to the involvement of organized crime, which has extended its reach of these criminals beyond our borders, stealing vehicles from crowded parking lots, taking mere seconds to steal high-end vehicles from driveways," MacSween said.

"They work in teams to scout out vehicles and advance as their criminal organizations arrange delivery to overseas locations to complete the lucrative illegal circle," he added.

MacSween said the number of vehicles stolen in York Region increased by nearly 300 per cent from 2020 to 2023. He said a total of 2,440 vehicles have been stolen so far in York Region this year, a drop from 3,460 stolen by this time last year. The drop is about a 31 per cent decrease from 2023, he said. 

As for carjackings, York Region has seen a 106 per cent increase in 2024 from this time last year, he said.

"We know that combatting these extensive criminal activities will take more than one campaign, more than one police service and more than one approach," MacSween said.

Crime analysts to create maps of hot spots, police say

In the new campaign, crime analysts will use data to create heat maps to identify areas prone to auto theft, then focus their crime prevention and enforcement efforts on those hot spots, MacSween said. Officers will be assigned to specific neighbourhoods to provide safety tips to residents directly, he said.

Officers will also to go to public locations, such as shopping malls and recreation centres, to hand out postcards containing crime prevention tips in four languages and Faraday bags that block signal-duplicating devices used by criminals to replicate key fobs. Police will also post videos with safety tips in multiple languages on social media. 

MacSween said the first campaign, Operation Auto Guard, used a combination of crime prevention and targeted enforcement and enabled police to recover 80 vehicles worth more than $5 million. A total of 56 people were arrested and now face nearly 300 charges.

'Ontarians are feeling vulnerable,' expert says

Bryan Gast, vice-president of investigative services with Équité Association, a non-profit organization that supports Canadian property and casualty insurers, said a vehicle is stolen in Canada every five minutes.

"The vehicles that organized crime groups are targeting in Ontario are newer and of greater value than any other province," Gast said. 

Gast said auto theft claim costs have surged in Ontario by 524 per cent since 2018. In 2023, auto theft claims in Ontario, for the first time, have surpassed $1 billion in a single year, he added.

"Beyond the financial impact, auto theft seriously impacts the sense of of security for community. Ontarians are feeling vulnerable," Gast said.

Police recommend six steps residents can take to prevent their vehicle being stolen:

• Invest in outdoor lighting and security cameras in your home.
• Use a steering wheel lock. 
• Store car keys in Faraday bags. 
• Do not leave valuables visible in your vehicle. 
• Park in a garage if possible.
• Install a GPS tracker or kill switch in your vehicle.

To avoid a carjacking, one of the violent forms of auto theft, police recommend: 

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Keep your doors locked while driving. 
• Park your car in a populated, well-lit area.
• If you suspect you're being targeted, contact 911 immediately or drive to a local police station.
• Always prioritize your personal safety over your property.