Over 550 stolen vehicles valued at $27M recovered in Toronto’s Project Stallion
Posted April 26, 2023 2:17 pm.
Last Updated April 26, 2023 6:52 pm.
The Toronto Police Service (TPS) announced the results of Project Stallion, which has led to over 550 stolen vehicles recovered valued at more than $27 million.
Police Chief Myron Demkiw discussed the investigation’s results on Wednesday, which focused on vehicle and catalytic converter thefts across the city’s west end.
Project Stallion began in November 2022, leading to the recovery of 556 stolen vehicles worth more than $27 million and over 300 charges laid against more than 100 people.
Demkiw said vehicle thefts in Toronto have doubled since 2019, calling it a significant issue in the city and across the GTA.
“Project Stallion is an example of the actions Toronto police are taking in our local communities to tackle this growing problem,” he said. “The TPS, including our OCIS team and police divisions, are working in alignment to recover stolen vehicles and hold people who commit these crimes to account.”
Project Stallion results:
- People charged: 119
- Charges laid: 314
- Vehicles recovered: 556
- Value of recovered vehicles: $27,406,120
- For a full list of those charged, visit here.
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Demkiw said data shows almost 2,000 vehicles were stolen in multiple police divisions in 2022, many of them Honda CR-Vs and Ford F-150 trucks. These police units also saw over 300 catalytic converter thefts.
TPS also noted that thieves are using “highly sophisticated methods to steal vehicles” and are using those vehicles to carry out other crimes or to ship them overseas.
“Thanks to the dedication of our officers, hundreds of stolen vehicles have been recovered before they left the country or were used in support of other crimes,” said superintendent Ron Taverner.
“Vehicle theft and its impact on violent crime is a growing issue in Toronto, and it can seriously compromise a victim’s personal safety and well-being. Toronto police take these crimes seriously, and Project Stallion is proof of that.”
Detective Sergeant Wehby said the rise in auto thefts isn’t only being felt in the GTA, calling it a provincial, national and international issue.
“Investigators are working around the clock in collaboration with our partners in policing, government agencies, industry and our communities,” Sgt. Wheby said.
“Project Stallion is an example of how intelligence-led and information sharing can help us tackle this growing problem.
