Vehicle thefts up nearly 34% across Niagara Region

Auto crimes have become a prevalent issue across Ontario and Niagara Region is no different.

There has been a large rise in auto thefts and thieves are targeting vehicles in residential driveways, unlocked garages, shopping malls, and commercial parking lots.

Since 2022, auto theft is among the top three generators for organized crime groups.

A report by the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CSIS) reported that Canada witnessed a staggering 62 percent increase in organized crime groups’ involvement in the stolen vehicle market between 2022 and 2023.

Stats compiled by the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) state that to date in 2024 (January to July) 467 vehicles have been stolen. A total of 277 automobiles have been recovered to date this year.

That works out to an average of 66 vehicles stolen per month on average and that’s up 33.75 percent from 2019 to 2023.

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“There are several factors that have contributed to the increased prevalence in auto crimes, one of which include the disruption of supply chains during the pandemic, that created a shortage of auto manufacturing parts and supply of vehicles,” said Niagara Regional Police in a release.

“The result was an opportunity to profit from the sale of stolen vehicles in domestic and foreign black markets, and an incentive to use sophisticated innovative methods and technologies to commit these crimes.”

The number of stolen vehicles has climbed over the last four years. Here are the totals:

• 670 cars stolen in 2020
• 686 cars stolen in 2021
• 697 cars stolen in 2022
• 852 cars stolen in 2023.

The NRPS is a member of the provincial strategy to prevent auto thefts and conducts investigations in partnership with Ontario Police Services and International Partners.

The local police service is also an active participant of the OPP-led Organized Crime Towing and Auto Theft (OCTATT) Unit which conducts joint forces investigations related to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling organized crime networks operating high-level criminal and fraudulent activities related to vehicle crime, auto theft and misconduct in the towing industry.

To help local residents combat the rash of auto thefts in the region, the NRPS will be offering faraday bags at District front desks across Niagara.

Faraday bags are small pouches that interrupt the signal from a car and its key fob. Car thieves sometimes target and acquire the signal to facilitate the theft of cars.

Residents are encouraged to attend Districts during regular operating hours and ask for a faraday bag for personal use, along with educational material.