Car thefts in the area surrounding the airport are down dramatically since a police operation in November 2017 broke up a major network of thieves.
“We’ve seen a huge drop,” said Alan DeSousa, Borough Mayor of Ville Saint-Laurent. “But, this is not a time to plant a flag and declare victory.”
Despite seeing a 34 per cent drop year-to year, Saint-Laurent remains one of the most vulnerable boroughs in the city, due to its central location and proximity to multiple highways, according to DeSousa.
Hotel parking lots along Cote-de-Liesse remain vulnerable despite efforts to beef up security.
“You’d be surprised how people just don’t realize that cars can be taken and disappeared in just a matter of seconds,” he said.
Stolen cars are often broken down for parts or immediately shipped abroad, making recovery difficult.
“By the time the police get to finding the car, the car is gone or it’s been disassembled,” DeSousa said.
According to information obtained by LaPresse through Access to Information, less than six per cent of stolen cars were recovered during to first eight months of 2018.