The riding of Rideau-Vanier is the hot spot for vehicle thefts in Ottawa this year, as the capital sees a decline in reported auto thefts through the first seven months of the year. Statistics available on the Ottawa Police Service’s crime map show 831 vehicle thefts have been reported across Ottawa so far this year, compared to 929 vehicle thefts between Jan. 1 and July 22, 2024. Ottawa police say the numbers include calls such as joyrides and thefts of opportunity, and not only vehicle thefts that are linked to organized crime. At least one vehicle has been reported stolen in all 24 wards across Ottawa. There have been 67 vehicles reported stolen in Rideau-Vanier so far this year, including 18 in the ByWard Market area and nine in Sandy Hill. A total of 66 vehicle thefts have been reported stolen in Gloucester-Southgate, 58 vehicle thefts in Alta Vista and 50 vehicles stolen in College ward. The drop in auto thefts in Ottawa so far in 2025 comes as new statistics show a 19 per cent decrease in vehicle thefts across Canada in the first six months of the year. Équité Association says 23,094 vehicles were reported stolen across Canada in the January to June period, down from 28,549 vehicle thefts during the same period last year. In Ontario, 9,600 vehicles have been reported stolen so far this year, down 26 per cent from last year. Équité Association says 56.5 per cent of vehicles stolen across Canada have been recovered so far this year. Here is a look at the top 15 wards for reported vehicle thefts in the first seven months of 2025
