Car thefts in Montreal: shopping mall parking lot a hot spot [Video]

More than 150 cars have been stolen so far this year from the Fairview Pointe-Claire parking lot, making it by far the most popular location for thieves on the Island of Montreal.

It’s the car theft capital of Quebec, according to crime data analyzed by CTV News. The data shows that 156 cars have been reported stolen from the parking lot in 2024, which works out to more than one car stolen every two days.

Doug Hurley, mayor of the L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève borough and the former head of the vehicle theft division for the Montreal police service, says thieves like the mall because it’s on Highway 40 and offers a quick drive to Ontario, which adds a layer of complication for police.

“You get in the vehicle, you steal it and you’re off on the highway,” he said in an interview.

“Before the owner even gets out of the shopping centre …