Hamilton, Ontario — A joint auto theft investigation between the Hamilton, Halton and Niagara police services has led to the arrest of 33 people alleged to be connected to the rising rate of theft in the area.
Project Hot Wheels was launched in late January to combat a 46 percent increase in vehicle theft reported by the Hamilton police over the past year.
Police say that by “utilizing intelligence-led policing, analytics on repeat offenders, known target vehicles and hot spot theft areas,” the investigation managed to result in the seizure of 32 stolen vehicles, three firearms, $9,416.20 in cash and $93,000 in cocaine, fentanyl, hash, meth, and MDMA.
The value of the stolen vehicles totalled about $508,000.
“The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates auto thefts cost Canadians close to $1 billion yearly, including $542 million for insurers to fix or replace stolen vehicles, $250 million in police, health care and court system costs and millions more for correctional services,” read an excerpt of Hamilton Police’s press release.
Police say the investigation is ongoing.
