Toronto Police Service crime statistics reveal that auto theft has been progressively climbing in Toronto, Ont., since around 2016, when the number of cases was 3,347. That figure rose to 9,771 in 2022, an increase of 47.3 per cent, while the issue entered full spotlight in 2023.
The number of cases in Toronto was 3,636 in 2014, but that figure decreased to 3,285 in 2015 before rising in 2016. When considering auto theft by premises between 2014-2022, trends show commercial purposes have increased 37.6 per cent over the years. Residential jumped 51.6 per cent and “Other” auto theft premises are up 45.6 per cent.
The neighbourhood with the highest number of auto theft cases, at 774, is West-Humber-Clairville, with 159 commercial cases and 129 residential cases. Four-hundred and eighty-six cases were placed in the “Other” category. Other areas that are also high on the chart include York University Heights (229 cases), Yorkdale-Glen Park (193 cases), Etobicoke City Centre (187 cases), and Humber Summit (173 cases).
Crime stats also show that Friday and Saturdays experienced the least number of auto theft events, while Wednesdays recorded the most cases, followed by Tuesdays and Thursdays. The most popular times were between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. (from Sunday to Thursday), with particular emphasis on 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.
Dealers can browse the full report here for more details.
Canadian auto dealer continues to cover updates in the area of auto theft. Our latest article can be viewed here.
