Canadian Police Chief: Stolen Ontario Cars Found in Morocco, Fueling International Auto Theft Concerns

"We have found a large number of stolen vehicles in Morocco and other countries," said Stephen Tanner, noting that these cars are sold there with Ontario license plates. According to him, once in Morocco, the vehicles are generally shipped to markets in Europe and other regions of Africa, reports the website inhalton.com. In the first six months of 2023, property crimes increased by 13.8% compared to the same period last year, which can be attributed to car thefts, according to crime data in Halton.

The increase in home invasions, where thieves seize car keys, worries Stephen Tanner. According to him, Toronto is already facing this type of crime that is spreading in the Peel region. He believes it’s only a matter of time before it hits Halton hard. Cars have been the target of break-ins in Milton and Oakville over the past three weeks, the police chief also adds.

Since the beginning of 2023, the total number of vehicle thefts stands at 265. Over the past five years, the number of vehicles stolen in the first half of the year has increased from 36 to 120 in 2023. In Tanner’s eyes, car theft has become a national problem. He therefore calls for more resources to be made available to federal agencies such as the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency to strengthen their presence in places such as the Port of Montreal, the main shipping point for most stolen vehicles.