Overall auto theft declining but violent attempts to steal cars are up: Ontario minister [Video]

Ontario’s recently appointed minister responsible for dealing with the province’s auto theft crisis says the government is seeing early indications the number of vehicles being stolen is falling but instances of violent theft have dramatically increased.

Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform Graham McGregor said the total number of vehicles taken has dropped, and up to 50 per cent of those stolen are found and returned by police. The nature of the crimes being committed, however, is becoming more troubling, he said.

“We’ve seen numbers go down a little bit this year compared to last year,” McGregor said in an interview on Focus Ontario. “We’ve seen the violent interactions go way up — so carjackings, violent home invasions where people are trying to steal car keys.”

Year-on-year, McGregor said auto theft overall was down by between 14 per cent and 17 per cent. The number of violent crimes has increased at the same …