Almost six thousand vehicles have been stolen this year in Toronto, the city police have revealed.
A carjacking on Monday put the total number for the year at 5909, a new milestone.
That crime put carjackings in the city at 179 so far in 2022, up 209% from 2021, a city police spokesman said.
In May, Toronto Police funded $2.3 million to have a special force tackle vehicle thefts and carjackings.
According to the police, carjacking incidents and auto thefts are different. A carjacking has an element of violence during the actual theft of the vehicle, making it a robbery.
A theft involves no violence or threat and on many occasions no victim is present.
Monday’s carjacking happened just after 5 p.m. in a parking lot in the Warden Ave. and Bamburgh Circle area of Scarborough.
Police say a firearm was seen and they are looking for three suspects. No injuries were reported.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-2222.
