{"id":14,"date":"2024-03-22T11:37:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-22T15:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/jn8201w2024\/?p=14"},"modified":"2024-03-22T15:09:25","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T19:09:25","slug":"the-rise-in-car-theft-in-toronto-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/jn8201w2024\/2024\/03\/22\/the-rise-in-car-theft-in-toronto-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto’s Massive Car Theft Problem, Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A
A car was stolen every forty minutes in Toronto last year, said Toronto police chief, Myron Demkiw. Photo by Daniel J\u0119dzura. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The number of car thefts in Toronto has more than tripled<\/a> since 2014, and more than 12,000 vehicles<\/a> were stolen in the GTA last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat’s one every 40 minutes,\u201d said Toronto Police Chief, Myron Demkiw, on Monday<\/a> while providing updates to the Toronto Police Services Board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So how did car theft become such a pressing issue in Toronto? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s everything you need to know about Toronto\u2019s rise in car theft \u2013 from why it\u2019s happening, to noteworthy trends and how to prevent car theft from happening to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why are more cars being stolen right now? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, there\u2019s been more demand for exported stolen cars overseas, said Peter Edwards, a crime reporter for the Toronto Star and an expert on autotheft in the GTA. This demand grew during the pandemic, when auto production slowed down, Edwards said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vehicles in Toronto are particularly vulnerable because the city is so populous and close to the Port of Montreal, where many cars are being shipped out, said Edwards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Car thieves have also become more technologically advanced than vehicle producers with their security system-hacking capabilities. Edwards said this means vehicles that are more internationally in demand and <\/em>have poorer built-in security systems are more likely to be stolen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noteworthy car theft trends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>