Kingston Police partner with Équité Association to combat auto theft.

Kingston Police and Équité Association, a not-for-profit working to eradicate insurance crime on behalf of the Canadian property and casualty insurance industry, are joining forces to combat and prevent auto thefts in the City of Kingston, through Project Memphis.

Project Memphis will address auto theft training, investigations and community outreach. Vehicles which are stolen in the City of Kingston have a substantial impact on the livelihood of our residents. Individuals rely on their vehicle to get their children to school, to get themselves to work and to support their day-to-day lives.

Équité will play a crucial role in this partnership. Through training, data and analytics, vehicle

identification, public education and coordinated investigations, the collaboration aims to eradicate insurance fraud and auto theft. To mitigate the risk of becoming a victim of auto theft, we recommend using a layered approach including simple steps like keeping doors locked, installing visible or audible anti-theft devices, using vehicle immobilizers, and investing in tracking systems.

Bryan Gast, VP, Investigative Services, Équité Association:

“Auto theft has reached crisis levels in this country. Last year, auto theft in Canada cost more

than $1.2 billion dollars. In Ontario alone, it was over $700 million dollars. This problem cannot

be remedied in isolation; it requires this kind of collaborative approach through public and

private partnerships to ultimately combat this crime. We look forward to partnering with the

Kingston Police on Project Attire as we work together to protect the people of Ontario.”

Kingston Police Chief Scott Fraser:

“This year alone we have had 158 vehicles reported stolen within the City of Kingston and the number continues to rise. This collaborative effort is just one of the ways our service is working to prevent auto theft and ensure our residents are free to navigate their daily lives, without worry, knowing that we are actively working to secure their vehicles and enhance community safety.”

Anyone with information pertaining to auto thefts is asked to call Kingston Police at 613-549-4660.

You can also provide tips anonymously by calling our general number 613-549-4660 ext. 0 and asking to remain anonymous or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).