Cornwall, ON – The Cornwall Police Service (CPS), in partnership with Équité Association, hosted the East Region Auto Theft Conference on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 at DEV Hotel & Conference Centre.

Approximately 70 members of law enforcement from federal, provincial and municipal agencies spanning from the Greater Toronto Area across Eastern Ontario and Quebec attended.

“I want to thank the Cornwall Police Service for hosting the East Region Auto Theft Conference,” said Mayor Justin Towndale. “Auto theft remains a serious challenge for communities across Canada, and conferences like this provide an opportunity to share best practices to combat and ultimately stop it from occurring.”

Équité Association, a not-for-profit working to eradicate insurance crime on behalf of the Canadian property and casualty insurance industry, has partnered with the CPS to support its fight against auto theft.

“This multi-agency training session in Cornwall highlighted the importance of collaboration among law enforcement,” said Betty Ng, Director of Investigative Services Ontario with Équité Association. “Équité is dedicated to providing vehicle examination, identification training, and stolen vehicle recovery support.”

The following services were represented at the conference:

• Belleville Police Service
• Brockville Police Service
• Canada Border Services Agency
• Cornwall Police Service
• Ontario Provincial Police
• Ottawa Police Service
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Service de police de Laval
• Smiths Falls Police Service
• Sûreté du Québec
• The International Criminal Police Organization
• Toronto Police Service

In December, the CPS launched Project ‘Wheels Up’, which was created to help prevent, disrupt and suppress organized motor vehicle theft organizations who target our community. The CPS provided targeted car dealerships in Cornwall with Faraday pouches, which help prevent key fobs from being remotely accessed.

The CPS now has an Auto Theft Investigator, who is dedicated to automotive theft investigations, which allows for greater response to occurrences of auto theft and enhanced investigative procedures. Responding to data driven information, this officer is able coordinate a response to these occurrences resulting in an increase in arrests and vehicle recovery.

Additionally, the CPS is also a key placeholder in the Eastern Ontario Auto Theft Prevention Task Force.

“The CPS is actively addressing the prevalence of auto thefts in our community through various initiatives and partnerships,” said S/Sgt. Tracey Pilon, who co-organized the conference with D/Cst. Owen O’Reilly. “It is through active engagement and collaboration with our partnering law enforcement agencies, in a coordinated manner toward the common goal of fighting organized crime, that keeps our community safe.”

The Auto Theft Conference was a tremendous opportunity for officers to engage, network and learn about auto theft trends and investigative resources available to them.

Équité Association presenters included:

• Mike Keizerwaard, Auto Theft Investigator & Expert Vehicle Examiner. Recognized as an expert witness in vehicle identification, Keizerwaard retired in 2017 after more than 30 years of service with York Regional Police. With Équité, he supports member insurance companies and law enforcement in tackling organized auto theft and re-vinned vehicles.
• Steve Gardner, Auto Theft Investigator & Expert Vehicle Examiner. A seasoned professional with more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement and organized crime investigation, Gardner joined Équité in 2018 and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role. Prior to his tenure at Équité, he dedicated 31 years to the Ottawa Police Service, where he notably led the Organized Auto Theft Squad for 12 years.
• Steve Coombs, Technical Surveillance Expert. Coombs is a seasoned professional with 23 years of service at York Regional Police. He specializes in surveillance and technology.

“Cornwall’s proactive approach to addressing auto theft is commendable, particularly given its strategic location as a gateway to the Port of Montreal,” said Ng. “Together, we can disrupt organized crime and protect our communities.”

CPS MISSION: In partnership with diverse communities, we are committed to the pursuit of excellence and keeping our city safe.

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Media Contact:
Rodney Wilson
Cornwall Police Service
Wilson.r@cornwallpolice.com