First, the good news: A lot fewer vehicles were stolen in Canada in 2024 compared to the year before. In Ontario alone, passenger vehicle thefts were down more than 17 per cent.
Now the bad news: the fight against car thieves is far from over. This chilling video released by York Region Police is just one example of the lengths criminals will go to steal your ride.
Meanwhile, police in Halton Region busted yet another alleged auto theft ring last week — this one targeting high-end vehicles parked outside hotels in Oakville and Burlington.
SEE: Eight charged as Halton Police dismantle high-end auto theft ring
Tonight on 'Closer Look': We revisit an episode of our 'Inside the Village' podcast featuring one of the country's leading experts on auto thefts.
A former OPP officer, Bryan Gast is now national vice-president of investigative services at Équité Association, an insurance crime watchdog.
“I always try not to give a how-to guide to steal vehicles, but I think it’s important for people to recognize what methods are out there so they can protect themselves," he said. "It’s very sophisticated, they are very well-connected and there are multiple groups that are doing this.”
You can watch his full interview HERE.
Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province.
Every episode is available HERE. If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts.
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