Ontario Moves to Crack Down on Auto Theft with New Police Powers
Province proposes legislation allowing seizure of illegal keyless entry devices
BRAMPTON — Ontario is taking new steps to combat auto theft, proposing legislation that would allow police to search for and seize electronic devices used in car thefts, such as key fob programming tools and fob scanners.
Announced Tuesday by Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria, the proposed changes to the Highway Traffic Act would give law enforcement greater authority to remove these devices from circulation before they can be used to steal vehicles. The move comes as criminals increasingly rely on keyless technology to target vehicles across the province.
“No matter where you live, every family deserves peace of mind knowing their homes – and their vehicles – are safe,” said Sarkaria. “By cracking down on these illegal devices, we’re disrupting criminal activity and giving police the tools they need to stop thefts before they happen, helping keep our communities safe for everyone.”
If passed, the legislation would enable police to search for and seize electronic devices suspected of being used for vehicle theft, while excluding legitimate uses by auto dealers, repair services, and roadside assistance providers.
🚨 Today, we’re taking another bold step to protect #Ontario families and fight #autotheft.
Our government is tabling new legislation to give police the power to seize the equipment used by organized criminals to steal vehicles.
Ontarians deserve safer streets and safer… pic.twitter.com/ztBB69VBNi
— Prabmeet Sarkaria (@PrabSarkaria) April 29, 2025
The proposed law builds on progress made in 2024, when vehicle thefts across Ontario declined by 16 per cent, according to government figures. However, officials say organized crime networks continue to adapt quickly, using increasingly sophisticated methods to steal vehicles.
“A major part of protecting Ontario is keeping our families and communities safe from the threat of crime,” said Zee Hamid, Associate Solicitor General for Auto Theft and Bail Reform. “Passing this measure will support law enforcement in safeguarding our streets, and make it easier to stop car thieves in their tracks.”
Alongside the legislative change, the province is making its Major Auto Theft Prosecution Response Team a permanent fixture. The specialized team, already active in areas such as Ottawa, Toronto, Brampton, Newmarket, Durham, London, and Windsor, focuses on high-crime areas by providing legal advice to police and prosecuting organized crime cases tied to auto theft.
Since April 2024, the Major Auto Theft Prosecution Response Team has been involved in over 80 prosecutions and supported investigations involving more than 1,700 stolen or targeted vehicles.
Local police are welcoming the province’s latest move.
“Peel Regional Police welcomes the Ontario government’s proposed legislation to help keep keyless entry devices out of the hands of criminals and further our fight against organized auto theft,” said Chief Nishan Duraiappah. “Through targeted enforcement and strong partnerships, we’ve made significant progress in Peel — recovering nearly half of all stolen vehicles in 2025 alone, laying hundreds of charges, and seeing a 45 per cent reduction in auto theft compared to the same time last year. However, our work is not done. We are committed to continuing this momentum through collaboration with all levels of government, the industry, our board, and communities.”
The government says the proposal is part of its broader Safer Streets, Stronger Communities strategy, which also created a provincial offence last year for providing false vehicle identification numbers — carrying penalties of up to $100,000 and potential jail time.
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