General News

South Simcoe Police partner with not-for-profit to reduce auto theft in the community

June 5, 2025   ·   0 Comments

The South Simcoe Police Service is joining forces with the Équité Association to combat and prevent auto thefts.

Équité Association is a not-for-profit organization working to eliminate insurance crime on behalf of the Canadian property and casualty insurance industry,

This partnership follows the Government of Ontario, Ministry of the Solicitor General’s announcement of the Preventing Auto Thefts (PAT) grant investment that will fund 21 projects across the province to support new and enhanced crime-fighting measures that focus on prevention, detection, analysis and enforcement.

“This collaborative effort is just one of the ways our service is working to prevent auto theft and ensure our communities know that we are actively working to secure their vehicles and enhance community safety,” said John Van Dyke, Chief of the South Simcoe Police Service.

The South Simcoe Police Service and Barrie Police Service will receive $1,800,000 from 2023 to 2026 to help combat and prevent auto thefts in the region. The PAT grant is one of several measures underway to fight auto theft, and Équité will play a crucial role in supporting this partnership. Through data and analytics, vehicle identification, officer training and coordinated investigations, the collaboration aims to eradicate insurance fraud and auto theft. 

“Auto theft has reached crisis levels in this country. Organized crime networks continue to look at stolen vehicles in Canada as a low-risk/high-reward opportunity, regardless if the vehicles are for export or domestic sale. These crimes hurt our communities and put Canadians at risk,” said Betty Ng, director of Investigations at Ontario & ICSS, Équité Association.

“While recent auto theft declines are encouraging, we recognize that this remains a complex issue requiring ongoing collaboration. Équité Association commends the efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the South Simcoe Police Service, in addressing this problem. By working together, we can create safer communities for everyone.”

To mitigate the risk of becoming a victim of auto theft, Équité recommends using a layered approach, including keeping doors locked, installing visible or audible anti-theft devices, using vehicle immobilizers, and investing in tracking systems.

Readers Comments (0)