More than 500 vehicles have been recovered and 119 people have been charged in connection with an ongoing investigation into auto theft in Toronto, police say.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw said the force launched Project Stallion in November of 2022 to address the growing issue of vehicle thefts in the city.
Demkiw said since the project began, 119 people have been charged and 314 criminal charges have been laid.
According to Demkiw, Project Stallion is ongoing.
Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner said as of April 11, 556 stolen vehicles have been recovered.
The vehicles have a combined value of approximately $27 million.
“These containers were used to transport cars to the Port of Montreal, and then they were to be shipped out outside of the country,” he said. “One car led us to 30 cars from that one investigation in a container operation.”
Demkiw said the number of auto thefts taking place in Toronto has “increased dramatically over the last several years.”
“In fact, they have more than doubled since 2019,” he said. “Making vehicle thefts a significant issue in Toronto and across the Greater Toronto Area. This project, like others that are taking place across the Toronto Police Service, is an example of the actions that the Toronto Police are taking in our communities to tackle this growing problem.”
Taverner echoed Demkiw’s remarks, saying vehicle theft and its “impact on violent crime” is a “growing problem” in the city and the Greater Toronto Area.
“It can compromise individuals and their personal safety and well-being,” he continued. “As we all know, if your car is stolen out of your driveway, it affects your ability to get to work, to collect your children, to run errands, and particularly if you’re a victim of carjacking, the trauma from that event can be serious and long lasting.”
Taverner said the force does “not take these crimes lightly.”
“Project Stallion is proof of that,” he said.
A list of those charged in connection with Project Stallion can be found on the Toronto police website.
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