Ottawa councillor calling for new ‘solutions’ to address rising vehicle crimes

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Barrhaven councillor calling for more police

Concerns about police resources in Barrhaven

An Ottawa councillor is calling on the Ontario government to explore solutions to address “rising vehicle crimes,” saying he wants people and businesses to feel safe in their community.

David Hill will introduce a motion at Ottawa City Council today, calling on Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to write a letter to the Ontario government to request strengthening penalties for stunt driving and vehicle thefts. The motion notes stunt driving is a “reckless crime” that puts road users in danger, and vehicle thefts “remain active concerns” for residents.

“New technologies are available to police stunt racing, including identifying noise violations from exhaust modifications,” Hill said.

The motion calls on Sutcliffe to propose several proposals to the Ontario government to address vehicle crimes, including:

• New legislation to allow police to use “sound detection technology” that can “accurately and effectively target illegal exhaust modifications.”
• Strengthen legislation for vehicle theft crimes, “especially for individuals with multiple offences.”
• Strengthen the Highway Traffic Act penalties for stunt racing.
• Introduce an assigned vehicle identification number program to crack down on the sale of stolen vehicles within Ontario.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe told reporters he is prepared to work Coun. Hill and the Ontario to government “to find solutions” to address “a real significant program.”

“It is important to deal with that issue and find solutions,” Sutcliffe said in French, adding other levels of government must present “solutions” to the issue.

Hill is introducing the motion two days after calling for an increased police presence in Barrhaven and other suburban neighbourhoods.

“Recently, we witnessed yet another brazen theft at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Barrhaven and this incident is not isolated, but part of a troubling trend that threatens the safety and security of our community,” Hill said.

“A strong police presence is not just about responding to crimes; it’s about preventing them. It’s about creating an environment where residents feel safe to live, work and play. It’s about ensuring that businesses can thrive without the constant fear of thefts and vandalism.”

• Police investigating string of perfume thefts in eastern Ontario

Last week, police launched an investigation into a robbery at a Shoppers Drug Mart on Strandherd Drive on March 17, with video showing people loading perfumes and colognes into plastic bins.

Data available on the Ottawa Police Service’s crime map shows police have received 108 reports of thefts under $5,000, three thefts over $5,000 and 32 calls for assaults in Barrhaven West since the start of the year. Police have also received six reports of vehicle thefts in the south end ward since Jan. 1.

Hill says the Barrhaven Business Improvement Area has been implementing several initiatives, including community watch programs and increasing lighting in commercial areas.

Chief Eric Stubbs told the Ottawa Police Service’s Board that the new south facility, set to open in two years, will increase the number of officers in the Barrhaven area. Stubbs adds the new South District Neighbourhood Resource Team, as part of the new district policing model, will have more officers in the neighbourhood.

“We are building, you know, as we have more resources that are deployable because we are hiring a lot … that neighbourhood response team in the south will get more resources to build up the presence there,” Stubbs said, adding Hill’s comments for more policing in the area “are accurate.”

The chief says with the arrival of the warmer weather, traffic enforcement officers will be deployed to hot spots for speeding and street racing in the south end.

“We do have our eye on the south and trying to build our team better in that area,” Stubbs said.

Hill says now is a “great time to have more resources in place.”

“Perhaps some of these retail thieves, car thieves would think twice,” Hill said. “I do think there is a further discussion to be had about sentencing, about judicial reform, about a lot of things in there. In the short term, in terms of city management (and) city leadership, what I’m saying is my small community out in south Ottawa, we’re not feeling great about the number of retail thefts and car thefts that we’re seeing.”

Acting Police Chief Steve Bell tells CTV News Ottawa that Hill’s concerns are “not only valid; they are a priority to us.”

“We are taking concrete steps to address crime trends in Barrhaven and across the city,” Bell said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

“A key part of this is a new district policing model to bring services closer to the people we serve and intended to look at each unique community. A significant investment in that model is the new South Facility in Barrhaven, which will strengthen our presence, improve response times, and allow us to better allocate resources to meet the needs of this growing area.”

Bell adds the new staff stabilization plan, which includes hiring new officers, ensures “we have the right officers in the right places at the right times.”

“In the meantime, we are already working to increase resources in the south end. We have a dedicated Neighbourhood Resource Team focused on proactive policing and community engagement, and as we build up our presence, that team will continue to grow,” Bell said.

“We are hiring more officers who will be deployed citywide, with further recruitment underway. Additionally, our traffic enforcement team is actively targeting issues like stunt driving and other safety concerns in the area.”

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Katie Griffin