Budget 2024: Liberals aim to hit the brakes on car theft with new criminal offences

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This article was published 16/04/2024 (570 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA – The federal government is going after car thieves in its latest budget with new Criminal Code offences.

The Liberals say they’ll create new charges for the use of violence while stealing a vehicle, and for links to organized crime.

They’re also proposing changes to make it illegal to own or sell the electronic and digital devices police say are being used to steal cars.

And if thieves involve a youth in their operation, that will be considered an aggravating factor in sentencing.

The changes are being proposed after a national auto theft summit was held in early February.

The government estimates 90,000 cars are stolen each year in Canada, and many of the thefts involve organized crime.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2024.