Auto theft down 8% in Durham Region with help from Project Attire

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Project Attire appears to be making a difference in auto theft in Durham Region.

The Durham Regional Police project, in collaboration with the Équité Association, was formed in December 2023 to focus strictly on auto theft investigations and recovery.

Police said that so far in 2024 there’s been an 8% decrease in auto thefts and more than 50% of stolen vehicles have been recovered.

In just one year, the Project Attire team has conducted 865 auto theft investigations, and laid 341 charges against 81 individuals.

Previously in Durham Region, police said there was a 100% increase in vehicle theft between 2021 to 2023.

Durham cops said they’re also seeing a concerning pattern, like other regions in the Greater Toronto Area, with many of those responsible for auto thefts already out on bail or under specific probation conditions set by the court for a previous crime.

Cops say since January 2023, about 25% of those charged with vehicle theft were also charged with failing to comply with a release order or breaching probation.

To raise awareness about auto theft, Durham police will also have a newly wrapped Durham Region Transit bus travelling through the region and displaying important information about the subject.

This bus will direct the public to a page on the website, drps.ca/vehicletheft, where there are additional tips and resources to help safeguard your vehicle.

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