Ontario is committing another $6 million to police-led auto theft prevention efforts as the province reports a continued decline in stolen vehicles from the record levels recorded in recent years.
The new funding, announced September 28 in Peel Region, will support 22 police projects through the province’s 2026-2027 Preventing Auto Thefts Grant Program. The investment brings Ontario’s total funding through the program to $24 million since 2023, while broader provincial spending on auto theft initiatives has reached $51 million over the past three years.
According to Équité Association’s 2025 auto trend report, 19,319 vehicles were stolen in Ontario last year, down from a peak of 30,134 in 2023. That represents a 36 per cent reduction.
Ontario Expands Funding for Auto Theft Enforcement
The province has directed funding toward several measures intended to strengthen investigations, prosecutions and cooperation among law enforcement agencies.
Those initiatives include the Preventing Auto Thefts Grant Program, the Provincial Auto Theft and Towing Team and the Major Auto Theft Prosecution Response Team.
“Auto theft is down across Ontario because our government is making it a priority and is giving police the tools and resources they need to go after the organized criminals who are behind it,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “While we are seeing real progress, we will not let up. That is why we are doubling down, further investing in our police services, and supporting their work to disrupt criminal networks and protect Ontario families and communities.”
The latest $6-million allocation will fund projects operated by police services across Ontario. The grant can be used for specialized investigator training, surveillance equipment, software, GPS tracking technology and public education campaigns.
OPP-policed municipalities, municipal police services and First Nations police services were eligible to apply.
Peel Regional Police Receives $300,000
Kerzner announced the funding at Peel Regional Police Headquarters alongside Mississauga–Streetsville MPP Nina Tangri.
Peel Regional Police will receive $300,000 to strengthen its Commercial Auto Crime Bureau. The funding will support dedicated investigators, specialized training, advanced investigative equipment, public education and participation in provincial auto theft summits and intelligence-sharing forums.
“We have made significant steps in addressing the ongoing threat of auto theft in our communities, and it’s critical that we keep our foot on the gas,” said Chief Nishan Duraiappah. “With proper resourcing, we can continue to mobilize specialized teams to pursue complex investigations and dismantle the criminal networks operating across the region and beyond. We thank the Government of Ontario for supporting our efforts to protect our communities, recover stolen vehicles and hold offenders accountable.”
Peel Regional Police has received a total of $1.2 million through the Preventing Auto Thefts Grant Program since 2023.
Peel Region Records 10% Decline in Vehicle Thefts
Provincial figures show the downward trend has continued into 2026, including in Peel Region, one of the Greater Toronto Area communities that has faced significant auto theft activity.
Between January 1 and June 30, approximately 2,790 vehicles were stolen in Peel Region. That was 299 fewer than the 3,089 vehicles reported stolen during the same period in 2025, representing a decline of about 10 per cent.
“Keeping families and communities safe is a top priority for our government,” said Nina Tangri, MPP for Mississauga – Streetsville. “This $300,000 investment will give Peel Regional Police additional tools and resources to combat auto theft, strengthen investigations and disrupt organized crime.”
Province-Wide Theft Numbers Also Fall in 2026
Ontario-wide figures indicate the decline has extended into the first half of this year.
According to an Équité Association report published in August, 8,796 vehicles were stolen across Ontario during the first six months of 2026, compared with 9,601 during the same period a year earlier. That represents an 8.4 per cent decrease.
The province’s latest funding is aimed at maintaining that downward trajectory by providing police services with additional investigative resources and technology.
Ontario officials say continued cooperation among local police services, provincial enforcement teams and prosecutors will remain a central part of the province’s approach as authorities work to disrupt organized vehicle theft networks and reduce the number of stolen vehicles across Ontario.