Toronto Mayor John Tory wrote a letter to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra to ask them for assistance with combatting carjackings in the city. .“I appreciate the Federal Government’s efforts at enforcement, which includes partnerships with local police services and investigations into the links between auto theft and other criminal activity such as organized crime,” said Tory in a Thursday letter. .“But I believe we all must work together even more now to further address the concerning rise in auto theft and improve public safety in the City.”.Toronto police said auto thefts have increased by 55% in the last year, representing the largest increase of all major crimes they track. According to Toronto police, there have been more carjackings to date this year than at this time last year, and this total might soon exceed the amount of incidents in 2021. .The letter said Toronto has responded to the increase in carjackings by forming investigation teams to work with police forces across Ontario to combat serious crimes. .Tory said he is writing to the Canadian government requesting additional resources for Toronto police and to explore upstream solutions, such as at the time of manufacture. .While Toronto city council has called on the Ontario government to form a car theft task force with the city, he asked the RCMP to provide support to this group. .Tory said he is confident that if all three levels of government work together, they can “reverse the tide of increasing auto thefts.” .“We simply must act to obtain better results and I think that can be best done together,” he said. .“The status quo is simply not acceptable for any of us.” .This letter comes after Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player Mitch Marner was the victim of a carjacking in Toronto on Monday. .The Toronto Maple Leafs said Marner was unharmed in the incident..“To all the fans, my friends and teammates, and the entire Maple Leafs organization- thank you for all your positive messages over the last few days,” said Marner. .“The overwhelming support I’ve felt from the Toronto community has been unbelievable.”
