Canada: More than 500 charges laid in GTA in link with violent car thefts since September 2023

(Aanchal Nigam / Red Maple)

Since September 2023, Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force (PCJTF) said it arrested 89 individuals and laid 554 charges in connection with violent car crimes in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). 

In a statement on Thursday, PCJTF said it recovered 109 vehicles in total.

The violent crimes included carjacking, home invasions with the aim for vehicle theft.

Superintendent Steve Watts, Organized Crime Enforcement, Toronto Police Service (TPS) expressed concerns over the growing car crimes while also noting the significant decrease in such incidents.

“Our collaboration with the OPP and other services across the GTA as part of the PCJTF has proven very successful thus far, with more than 550 charges laid in 89 arrests, and 109 vehicles recovered.

“Although the number of carjackings in Toronto decreased in 2023 compared to the year before, we continue to see a concerning rise in violence related to auto thefts that the PCJTF will continue to address. Across the GTA, members of the task force are successfully disrupting the networks responsible for high-risk auto thefts and holding those who are responsible to account,” he said.

PCJTF was founded with the joint funding of the Ontario Government, Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario (CISO). It was formed to address the increasing violent car thefts. 

It is co-led by the Toronto Police Service (TPS) and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), with collaboration between police services from across the GTA, including York Regional Police (YRP), Halton Regional Police (HRP), Durham Regional Police (DRP) and Peel Regional Police (PRP).

In the same release, ​​OPP Detective Superintendent Paula Milne said PCJTF officers are working closely with members assigned to the OPP-led Organized Crime Towing and Auto Theft Team and partners, including Équité Association and the Canada Border Services Agency.

“Through this ongoing collaboration, we are confident that we can identify and dismantle the organized crime groups that are responsible for the recent spike in serious vehicle crimes,” Milne said.

Image Source: @TorontoPolice/Instagram