Mississauga
Ontario is giving police services $18 million over three years to help them fight auto theft.
Premier Doug Ford says auto theft is a growing problem and the funding will help dismantle organized crime networks and get criminals off the streets.
The grants are set to fund 21 projects, including buying new software, GPS and tracking devices, providing specialized training to investigators, creating new units dedicated to auto theft, and expanding data collection and analysis.
Barrie Police Service and South Simcoe Police Service will get $1.8 million.
On average, just over one vehicle per day is being stolen in the city so far this year, according to Barrie police.
Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah says his region has the highest per capita number of stolen vehicles in the province, losing about 20 vehicles a day.
He says it's not just about auto theft, but is an "alarming trend" supporting a host of other crimes in organized networks.
Banner image: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 24, 2023.
Files from Barrie 360
