Regional police laser-focused on rising number of vehicle thefts, carjackings
Posted Oct 1, 2024 03:06:14 PM.
Last Updated Oct 1, 2024 03:06:22 PM.
It might not be the hot-button topic it was a the beginning of the year but vehicle thefts continue to be top of mind for police forces across the province, including Waterloo Regional Police (WRPS).
Speaking to The Mike Farwell Show, WRPS Chief, Mark Crowell said the numbers show this is a problem that isn’t going away.
“Year-to-date we’ve seen a 26 per cent increase in vehicle thefts in Waterloo Region. Last year we had 695, this year we’re up to 875,” he noted while that’s significant, what is more worrisome is carjackings. “The most alarming thing is we’ve seen a doubling of carjackings in Waterloo Region. Last we had a total of 10. So far this year there have been 20.”
He said officers have heard reports of people being pulled from their vehicles or assaulted while walking to their vehicles. Crowell mentioned an increase in vehicle keys being stolen during break-ins or break-ins targeting keys or fobs.
“So, I can tell you this is our top priority in terms of crime suppression with shootings, robberies, break and enters and vehicle thefts related to the utmost violence,” he said. “We’ll continue to make our best efforts locally but also work with our provincial and national partners because this is a whole network of organized crime.”
Crowell said vehicles stolen domestically can be sold for double their value overseas. The big payoff is part of the reason police are seeing more brazen attempts locally.
Crowell adds that what was once seen as a Greater Toronto Area problem is a problem for the region because of the flow of traffic between the two communities.
Last spring, the federal government announced $28 million for the purchase of scanning equipment at the Port of Montreal, the main hub for shipping stolen vehicles overseas.
