Waterloo Regional Police Service helps recover 20 stolen vehicles in Hamilton, Ont.

Two men are facing charges after Waterloo Regional Police Services helped recover 20 stolen vehicles in Hamilton, Ont.

According to police, reprogramming technology was used to steal five Toyota and Lexus vehicles from the driveways of homes in the Doon South and Brigadoon neighbourhoods of Kitchener between Dec. 28 and 29.

On Dec. 30, the WRPS Break, Enter, and Vehicle Theft (BEVT) team, with assistance from Hamilton Police, searched a rural property in the Mount Hope area. Multiple stolen vehicles were located.

According to police, 20 stolen high-end vehicles, including Toyotas, Lexus, and Jeeps, were recovered with an estimated value of $1.4 million.

"In total, 20 stolen high end vehicles were located, including 13 that had been reported stolen from Peel, Toronto, York, Hamilton and Waterloo," Supt. Shaena Morris with the Waterloo Regional Police Service said. "It is our belief these vehicles were stolen to be shipped overseas and trafficked for profit.”

Other property was also seized, including a forklift and vehicle loading ramp.

All the vehicles were towed to impounds in Hamilton. If an insurance claim has been made on a vehicle, the vehicle will then go to the insurance company. Police said if the vehicle was recently stolen it will go back to the victim.

A 63-year-old man from Hamilton and a 27-year-old man from Bolton were arrested and charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000.

"We do expect more arrests that will come of this, the investigators are working through this in cooperation with Hamilton [Police Service]," Supt. Morris said.

Police are still investigating and are asking anyone with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers.

A Tundra truck was seen on a ramp as Waterloo Regional Police Service recovered 20 allegedly stolen vehicles in Hamilton. (Courtesy: Waterloo Regional Police Service)

A growing problem

According to police, the five-year average for stolen vehicles from 2019 until 2023 was 938. In 2023, 1,084 vehicles were reported stolen. In 2024, 1,130 vehicles were reported stolen from January to November.

"We have seen a rise in both carjackings, which doubled in 2024, and vehicle thefts which have increased by 25 per cent in the past five years," Supt. Morris said. "This surge in vehicle thefts linked to organized crime is not limited to Waterloo region, but it's part of a growing and concerning trend across Ontario and Canada.”

Vehicle thefts using reprogramming technology has been on the rise in the Region of Waterloo. In 2023, 76 reprogramming thefts were investigated, many with links to organized crime. In 2024, that number rose to 142, an increase of 87 per cent.

Police are also in the process of investigating 41 attempted reprogramming thefts where the vehicles were significantly damaged.

Protecting your vehicle

To help protect their vehicle from being stolen, Waterloo Regional Police encourage owners and drivers to block access to the onboard diagnostic port to prevent reprogramming of the vehicle's key fob and not leave keys in the vehicle. Place the key fob inside a radio frequency shielding bag or pouch when not using the vehicle. Owners can also consider installing a Global Positioning System tracker, using a steering wheel locking device or installing a wired camera or alarm.

"In this instance, a third party tracking device was very beneficial. We're suggesting the public invest in using those," Supt. Morris said.