Stolen Cars Piling Up - Cops Launch Urgent Hunt for GTA Auto Theft Hotspots

TORONTO — Scott Cresswell was behind the wheel of an unmarked white police truck as he drove across the Greater Toronto Area looking for compounds that might be used to hide stolen vehicles. He was part of an ongoing effort by law enforcement agencies to combat a surge in auto theft and violent carjackings plaguing the region.

Cresswell and his team weren’t alone in this quest. In recent months, multiple GTA police departments have ramped up their efforts to tackle the prolific auto theft issue, collaborating on joint operations to dismantle organized crime networks believed to be behind the bulk of the thefts.

According to statistics, GTA saw a significant spike in auto theft last year, with some jurisdictions reporting increases of over 30 percent. Violent carjackings also seem to be on the rise, leaving many residents feeling uneasy.

"This is a high-priority issue for us. We understand the impact auto theft can have on people’s lives, both financially and emotionally," said a GTA police spokesperson.

While specific figures on the number of stolen vehicles hidden in GTA compounds are not publicly available, police acknowledge that many thefts involve some form of ‘chop shop’ operation. Stolen cars are taken to these hidden locations and rapidly dismantled for parts or re-sold overseas.

A top priority for the police is gathering enough intelligence on suspected compounds, identifying, and apprehending those involved in this lucrative but illicit industry. For the drivers behind this investigative drive, their persistence is all that may be standing between GTA residents and an out-of-control auto theft crisis.

“You work to recognize subtle signs because you want the outcome — saving the vehicles — to matter,” said Scott Cresswell on the determination behind his work. “We see the high value of making these operations successful and the residents seeing less of their property turned into crimes they have to navigate."