Toronto/IBNS: An ongoing Toronto Police Service investigation into car and catalytic converter thefts in the city's west end resulted in more than 100 people being charged, and recovery of 100s of vehicles, police announced Wednesday.

Police Chief Myron Demkiw was joined on Wednesday by Superintendent Ron Taverner, 22 and 23 District Commander, and Detective Sergeant Peter Wehby of the Organized Crime Investigative Support Team (OCIS) to discuss Project Stallion, an ongoing investigation into the vehicle and catalytic converter thefts in Toronto’s west end, a news release has said.

“Vehicle thefts in Toronto have more than doubled since 2019...in our city and across the GTA....Project Stallion is an example of the actions Toronto Police...to tackle this growing problem...result of the dedication of our investigators...our partners in law enforcement, including the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and CISO,” Chief Demkiw has said in a news release

Toronto police said at a news conference that from Nov 2022 to April 11, 2023, 119 people were charged by the investigators and 556 stolen vehicles were recovered.

Those arrested were reportedly from Ontario, Quebec

Taverner was reported saying that recovered vehicles have a combined value of more than $27 million.

"Vehicle theft and its impact on violent crime is a growing problem in our city and the Greater Toronto Area," Taverner said.

In 2022, the city's west-end police said many of the stolen vehicles were Honda CR-Vs and Ford F-150 trucks, as well as more than 300 catalytic converter thefts.

The stolen cars, according to police, would have been either shipped overseas to be sold or used to carry out other crimes locally.

"By and large, there are little cells or large cells of individuals who are involved in these thefts and working as organized groups," Taverner was reported saying and added that thieves will often drill holes through the rear or side of a vehicle to enter it, then start the car using a "sophisticated" piece of equipment.

He said the investigation into car and catalytic converter thefts is an ongoing process

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)