The Windsor Police Service is dedicating more staff to help prevent auto thefts in the community thanks to a grant from the provincial government.
The Windsor Police Auto Theft Unit will partner with car dealerships and other stakeholders to raise awareness about protecting people from getting their vehicles stolen.
With the $900,000 grant, three full-time officers will be dedicated to the unit.
"We'll be looking at our investigations and hopefully having more complete investigations and more arrests as a result of having an increased team," said Staff Sergeant Susan Garrett-Bural.
Last year, there were 774 vehicles stolen in Windsor and Amherstburg, an increase of 7.4 per cent from 2022.
The Auto Theft Unit will also partner with Équité Association a not-for-profit organization that investigates insurance crime.
The Windsor Police Service was one of 21 police services in the province to receive a Preventing Auto Thefts grant from the province.