Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – September 23, 2024 – What is the Mayor doing about Auto Theft in Burlington?
Welcome to the Mayor’s Monday Mailbag, an initiative Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Mayor’s Office launched to share weekly answers to questions from the public we’ve received through our main email inbox at mayor@burlington.ca or the Mayor’s social media platforms.
At the end of the month, we publish a roundup of those most pressing questions we’ve received in the weeks prior.
Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – September 23, 2024
Q: What is the Mayor doing about Auto Theft in Burlington?
Firstly, I want to express my deepest sympathies for the distressing impact that vehicle theft can have, and I commend those of you impacted for using your voice to advocate for change.
This is an issue that requires all levels of government and police to work together to resolve. At the city level, we can assist in gathering your concerns and sharing information with the community, as I recently did at a Community Safety Meeting. During this meeting, representatives from Halton Regional Police also provided valuable tips and guidance on how to prevent auto theft.
Several councillors have provided similar information to their constituents, and there is an upcoming Community Safety Meeting in Ward 1 hosted by Councillor Galbraith on October 23 at 6:30pm at St Matthew’s Anglican Church.
City Council also unanimously passed my motion that calls for a more robust anti-theft program, including increased funding for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to inspect containers at ports suspected of holding stolen vehicles. Additionally, I am urging the provincial government to improve the vehicle transfer process, as recommended by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, to help minimize improper vehicle transfers. We are actively advocating for support from both provincial and federal governments.
At the Halton Regional Council table (where all members of Burlington council serve) we approved the Halton Regional Police Services budget. This funding will enable the police to enhance their staffing and adopt new technologies to combat rising auto thefts effectively. We believe that these resources will empower our police to apprehend more offenders and better protect our community.
We are also pleased to share that the Halton Regional Police Service has made significant strides in combating organized auto theft. Recently, the HRPS announced Project Ninja, a three-month investigation that led to the dismantling of a car theft group operating throughout the Greater Toronto Area. This operation has resulted in the arrest of four suspects and Canada-wide warrants for four others. The investigation revealed that many of these individuals had been traveling from Québec to commit thefts, using short-term rentals as bases for their operations.
As Deputy Chief Jeff Hill stated, "Auto theft is more than simply stealing cars. The proceeds made from stolen vehicles are funding organized crime that impacts the safety and well-being of all law-abiding residents." The Halton Regional Police Service is steadfast in their commitment to combat this pressing issue, and I stand with them in this mission.
Together, we will work towards making Burlington a safer place for everyone. Thank you for your continued engagement and support.