Ontario putting $51M over 3 years to tackle surge in auto theft

OAKVILLE, Ont. — Ontario is spending $51 million over three years to try to fight auto theft, which the government says has increased 14 per cent in the last year alone.

Solicitor General Michael Kerzner says the measures are aimed at dismantling organized crime groups and bringing criminals to justice.

2:08 78 stolen vehicles recovered, 4 charged as Peel police work to target car theft ‘epidemic’

Part of the money is set to go toward creating an organized crime and auto theft team led by the Ontario Provincial Police.

As well, the government says it is creating a major auto theft prosecution team to provide dedicated legal and prosecution support to the OPP when taking complex cases to court.

The money is also set to go toward a grant for police services for extra tools, supports and resources to tackle auto theft, including technology to find and identify stolen vehicles, as well as for public awareness campaigns.

The province says that in Ontario a car is stolen every 48 minutes.

2:21 More than 500 stolen vehicles recovered, 119 people charged in Toronto: police