Ontario Government Calls for Change and I Don’t Blame Them

Car theft is not just a Canadian problem, it happens everywhere and unfortunately the amount of car thefts and car related crimes have been on the rise in recent years. In 2024, although the number of crimes reported seems like a high number (57,359) it is lower than the numbers that were reported in 2023 (70,475). But it all comes down to what the country’s government is doing about it. In this week’s blog post, we will be exploring the solution Ontario’s government (the province I reside in) came up with in an attempt to solve this ever growing crisis. 

Before we start, just to illustrate or bring life to the numbers, below are 5 different incidents that have occurred within the past 4 weeks related to car crimes: 

• https://www.insauga.com/car-thieves-targeted-ontario-hotel-parking-lots-eight-people-arrested/ 
• https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/04/26/1-arrested-1-wanted-in-theft-of-luxury-cars-in-brampton/ 
• https://www.insauga.com/1248-vehicles-stolen-since-the-start-of-2025-in-mississauga-and-brampton/ 
• https://farmersforum.com/norfolk-8-pickup-trucks-stolen-from-one-property-6-recovered-auto-theft-unit-seeks-witnesses/ 
• https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2025/04/05/two-arrests-made-following-attempted-vehicle-theft-in-cambridge/ 

But let’s rewind just a little bit and gather a full understanding of what the term “auto theft” really is. By definition it is the criminal act of stealing or attempting to steal a motorized vehicle. This can be broken down into different types of offences that include motor vehicle theft (the most common kind), carjacking, or theft from vehicles. In Canada, if the person is caught, the crime is taken very seriously and the punishments reflect this. Penalties range from fines to imprisonment depending on the type of crime and the criminal’s history. 

What is the difference between auto theft and grand theft auto (not the video game) you may ask? Well it’s very simple, grand theft auto is the most serious charge (when compared to the two). Typically grand theft auto will involve a higher monetary value of the stolen vehicle or the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the car. Examples of this type of crime include – stealing a car with the intent of selling it or using a car as a getaway vehicle in another crime. In Canada, if one is found guilty of this crime, the maximum amount of years the criminal can spend in jail is 10. If the offender has a history of two or more similar convictions and is prosecuted by indictment, the minimum penalty is 6 months.

What Sparked the Ontario Government to Change the Rules for Police Surrounding Car Thefts? 

Well to answer this question truthfully, it was the numbers that were being reported annually and a new trend offenders have hopped on – keyless entry technology. Through the use of electronic devices by these individuals (key fob programming tools or smartphone apps) they are able to gain access and steal vehicles while being in the same vicinity as the car and not necessarily right beside it. The apps would allow the user to bypass the security systems and trick the car into thinking it was the owner that used the key to open the doors. 

The Ontario government declared a crime of this nature a crisis and decided they needed to have a new response to dealing with these crimes especially given the fact that auto theft has been evolving and getting out of hand over the years. 

What has the Government of Ontario Decided to do to Combat These Situations? 

Although the span of this type of crime is so wide, before we get into the new proposals made recently by the Ontario government let’s take a look at what was being done to handle these situations previously. According to the Public Safety’s website, there have been many joint ventures that are in motion to try and deal with this. From the Royal Mounted Police to the Canada Border Services Agency and even the local police agents, partnerships have been created across all forms of authority to try and curb this crime.

There was even a call for a new program to be created called the National Intergovernmental Working Group on Auto Theft which would band the forces from the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial governments to coordinate actions, monitor progress, and explore new ideas that would include support from all levels of government to come up with a solution. The first meeting took place in October 2024. 

Then there’s the Highway Traffic Act – a provincial legislation that among other things regulates the classification of traffic offences. The Ontario government wants to propose new legislation that would alter this act slightly to allow police officers to search and seize electronic devices used to steal cars. The announcement was made by the province’s Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria on April 29, that reads in part “By cracking down on these illegal devices, we’re disrupting criminal activity and giving police the tools they need to stop thefts before they happen…” (Canadian Auto Dealer, Phillips, T., & Lefko, P. (2025, May 2). Ontario’s new legislation would let police seize electronic devices used to steal cars. Canadian Auto Dealer. https://canadianautodealer.ca/2025/05/ontarios-new-legislation-would-let-police-seize-electronic-devices-used-to-steal-cars/). However Sarkaria went on to say later that the lawful use of these tools by auto dealers, repair services, and roadside assistance would be exempt. 

With Peel region being named the top spot targeted for auto thefts, Peel police Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich told reporters that the support is welcomed with open arms. The province will establish a new team dedicated solely to providing support to the police in auto theft hot spot areas in Ontario including Brampton, Toronto, Ottawa, London, Newmarket, Durham, and Windsor. The main objective of this unit would be to provide legal advice, support prosecutors, and attempt to dismantle organized crime in these areas.  

How can you prevent car theft from happening to you? Tips and Tricks 

Your first thought when going out to buy a new car (whether it is new or used) should not be “Oh gee I hope someone doesn’t try and steal this”, but unfortunately this is a fear of many around the world. Not to worry though, there is hope! We have compiled a short list for some of the important points you can do to help prevent this from happening to you:

• Lock your vehicle – This does seem pretty basic but this is a step many people often forget or doubt themselves whether they have locked the car or not 
• Hide your valuables – If it is necessary that you have to have valuables in your car, just keep them out of sight 
• Be cautious with your keys – It does become an easy habit especially when around familiar company to just have your keys laying out in the open, but you never know what could happen particularly in a public setting 
• Protect your key fob – Use an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)-blocking pouch or even just wrap your keys in aluminum foil (trust me this works) to prevent signal interception and relay attacks 
• Cover your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) – This is something many people don’t commonly think about, but this is a very easy way for thieves to clone your vehicle 
• Invest in anti-theft devices
  • Steering wheel lock 
  • Alarm system 
  • Immobilizer 
  • GPS tracking system 
  • Kill switch – Can be activated to disable the engine and prevent the car from being driven 
• Secure your license plate 
• Install security cameras 
• Consider theft deterrent decals – Decals indicating anti-theft devices 
• Register with a recovery service 
• Keep your car’s anti-theft system maintained 

Final Thoughts

Since you made it this far, why not check out a post we published 3 years ago in 2022 that really was an automotive year to remember but in a good way of course.