Ontario wants cops empowered to seize electronic devices for vehicle theft

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The province is making moves to get tougher on auto theft in Ontario.

The Ford government proposed legislation that would amend the Highway Traffic Act to give police the authority to search for and seize electronic devices that are intended to be used for vehicle theft.

While authorities say the combined efforts of law enforcement and government saw vehicle theft in Ontario decrease by 16% in 2024, criminals are increasingly using keyless entry technology to steal cars from unsuspecting victims.

“A major part of protecting Ontario is keeping our families and communities safe from the threat of crime,” said Zee Hamid, associate solicitor general for auto theft and bail reform, in a statement.

“Passing this measure will support law enforcement in safeguarding our streets, and make it easier to stop car thieves in their tracks.”

If passed, the new legislation would allow police to search for and seize items such as key fob programming devices, fob scanners and some smartphone applications.

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“No matter where you live, every family deserves peace of mind knowing their homes – and their vehicles – are safe,” said Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria.

“By cracking down on these illegal devices, we’re disrupting criminal activity and giving police the tools they need to stop thefts before they happen, helping keep our communities safe for everyone.”

In addition, the province is permanently establishing a dedicated Major Auto Theft Prosecution Response Team to focus on crime hotspots, such as Ottawa, Toronto, Brampton, Newmarket, Durham, London and Windsor.

The team provides legal advice and prosecutorial support to police services and helps dismantle organized crime networks, holding offenders accountable and cracking down on carjackings and home invasions.

Since April 2024, the group has taken on over 80 prosecutions and provided legal advice on over 20 major investigations across Ontario related to more than 1700 stolen or targeted vehicles.

“Peel Regional Police welcomes the Ontario government’s proposed legislation to help keep keyless entry devices out of the hands of criminals and further our fight against organized auto theft,” said Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah.