Fighting Auto Theft by Cracking Down on Car Thieves

Our provincial government is cracking down on crime and keeping our streets safe in Simcoe County and York Region. Proposed legislation, if passed, will give police the tools they need to seize electronic devices used for vehicle theft.

No matter where you live, every family deserves peace of mind knowing their homes – and their vehicles – are safe.

While the combined efforts of law enforcement and government saw vehicle theft in Ontario decrease by 16 per cent in 2024, criminals are increasingly using keyless entry technology to steal cars from unsuspecting victims.

That is why our government is introducing new legislation that would allow police to search for and seize items that are suspected of being used to access and steal a vehicle, such as key fob programming devices, fob scanners and some smartphone applications.

In addition, the province is permanently establishing a dedicated Major Auto Theft Prosecution Response Team to provide legal advice and prosecutorial support to police services and focus on crime hotspots across Ontario, such as Ottawa, Toronto, Brampton, Newmarket, Durham, London and Windsor.

By cracking down on illegal use of keyless entry technology, we’re disrupting criminal activity and giving police the tools they need to stop thefts before they happen.

Learn More: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005852/ontario-fighting-auto-theft-by-cracking-down-on-car-thieves