As vehicle theft continues to climb, the Ford government’s announced it will invest $51-million over three-years in new efforts to help police catch the thieves.

”Our government is taking bold action against a serious and often violent crime where high-tech criminals operate in tightly organized networks,”’ says Solicitor General Michael Kerzner.

”These measures are aimed at taking crime organizations apart and bringing these criminals to justice.”

The measures include the creation of a specialized team led by the OPP that will work with other police services to identify, disrupt and dismantle organized crime networks responsible for vehicle theft.

Another team will provide dedicated legal and prosecutorial support to the OPP to prepare and prosecute complex cases.

Starting this year, OPP and municipal police services will be eligible to apply for a new grant for extra tools, supports and resources to fight and prevent auto theft.

In Ontario, a vehicle stolen every 48-minutes.

Between 2014 and 2021, there was a 72% increase in auto theft across the province and a 14% rise just in the last year.