Toronto city has reportedly already seen, three months into 2024, more than double the number of carjackings it did this time last year, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said.
Toronto police confirmed 68 carjackings, a 106 percent increase over the same time period in 2023, according to new statistics released ahead of a news conference Monday afternoon.
In a news release Demkiw said the city has witnessed an overall escalation of “violence, threats and intimidation” related to car theft, including suspects who use weapons to steal vehicles.
“We are putting a significant amount of resources …have seen an escalation of violence, threats and intimidation, where weapons are being used to steal vehicles…Break and enters for auto thefts continue to rise…34 incidents so far this year compared to 22 for all of last year,“ said Chief Demkiw in the news release.
121 suspects have been arresed by the Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force, co-led with the OPP, laid 730 charges and recovered 157 stolen vehicles since September 21, 2023.
Formed amid a rise in violent car thefts, the provincial carjacking joint task force is led jointly by Toronto police and Ontario Provincial Police, and collaborates with other police services across the region.
