Achi news desk-
Police in Ontario and Montreal say they are tackling the rise in car thefts through a joint effort officially announced Friday.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Montreal police held a press conference to detail the results of a major inter-provincial operation called Project Volcano.
The initiative was targeted at bringing individuals before the court to answer for an increase in car thefts, the police said.
Through Project Volcano, police say officers have arrested 31 individuals involved in car thefts in Canada.
The initiative targets individuals with outstanding warrants related to auto thefts in the eastern region of Ontario and Quebec.
“Auto theft is affecting Ontarians at an unprecedented rate. In the last seven weeks alone, almost 3,000 vehicles have been stolen from unsuspecting members of the community across our state. Criminals have trespassed on property to steal these vehicles, endangering our communities and the safety of our officers,” said OPP deputy commissioner Marty Kearns.
According to Kearns, between 2021 and 2023, police have seen a 206 percent increase in violent carjackings and home invasions, which he adds are mostly in the Toronto area.
In 2023, it states there were 417 carjackings in the Greater Toronto Area, 105 of which involved firearms.
“The prevalence of firearms in vehicular crime is a serious public safety threat to community members and our police officers. What is also worrying is how quickly criminals are able to steal vehicles, often using methods to defeat existing anti-theft technology,” said Kearns.
Kearns notes that multiple police forces have joined efforts in several task forces to mitigate the increase in car thefts and the recovery of stolen property.
Many vehicles stolen in Ontario were transferred to Quebec to be shipped out of the country through the port of Montreal.
While the majority of vehicles come from Toronto, OPP say the issue affects all regions.
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According to a report released last month by the Équité Association, an organization that aims to reduce insurance fraud and crime, 30,134 cars were stolen in Ontario in 2023. In Quebec, 15,225 cars were stolen last year.
“They were either driven across provincial borders or transported to Quebec by transport truck or train. Many were stolen from the GTA. But this is an issue that affects all of our jurisdictions. In most cases, they were meant to be illegally exported through the Port of Montreal,” OPP inspector. Joe Goodwin said.
Goodwin says this traffic has led to increased pressure on state police in the eastern region of the state to address the number of stolen vehicles passing through the area.
“A number of arrests took place as a result of their hard work. Some of the accused were remanded in custody, while others were released on conditions with future court appearance dates. However, many of those released failed to attend their scheduled dates,” Goodwin said.
Through Project Volcano, Goodwin says police have identified several of the individuals they wanted in Montreal.
Of the 31 people arrested, police say 12 have already been detailed in Quebec correctional facilities and will face further charges for the robberies in Ontario upon release.
“It is important to note that the officers saw evidence of recidivism. This week, during the arrests, they were found in residences with other people wanted for car theft, and they were also found to be in possession of car theft equipment and technology. This shows that, although they have charged before, some of the accused continue to reoffend,” said Goodwin.
Police are warning that an increased presence of officers from both departments is expected in Montreal throughout the week as the operation progresses.
“Together, we hit the car theft rings in Ontario and Quebec hard. The message we are sending is clear: There are no borders between our states. We will continue to maintain pressure on all involved in car theft at all levels,” said Montreal Police Insp. David Shane said.
“By attacking the base and the top of the pyramid at the same time. We are convinced that we have shaken the institutions involved in this activity. We take vehicle theft very seriously.”
Shane warned that vehicle theft is increasingly becoming a public safety issue as thieves try to avoid arrest and flee at high and dangerous speeds without concern for residents.
“We take vehicle theft very seriously. The impact on victims is very significant, both financially and in terms of their sense of security,” says Shane.
There is no danger to public safety at this time, the police said.
With files from Felicia Parrillo of Global News
