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A local auto glass repair says they’ve seen a sharp increase in clients coming in for repairs, as car thefts are soaring and Windsor police receive some extra cash to help combat auto theft.
Brian Furtado is the branch manager for the Speedy Glass on Howard. Over the last six weeks, they’ve seen four or five people per day coming in for repairs to broken windows on their cars.
He said customers often come in upset, feeling their safety and privacy violated. Mondays are the worst day of the week, he added, because of damage that happens over the weekend.
“It’s not the increase we want to see,” Furtado said. “We definitely sympathize with the customers and what they’re going through.”
Furtado acknowledged that replacing glass is their business. But, he says, this is above what’s normal.
“This is not how we want to hit the black line, right? We don’t want to do it on the backs of this kind of situation,” he said. “Road hazards … or rocks hit the windshield, it happens.
“But this is different.”
On Friday Windsor police and MPP Andrew Dowie (Conservative — Windsor-Tecumseh) announced $900,000 more in funding over the next three years to help Windsor police combat car theft.
The money is part of the Preventing Auto Thefts grant program, and the Windsor Police Service is one of 21 departments province-wide that will receive some of the $18 million in total funding.
“We are putting car thieves in Windsor-Essex on notice,” said Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie. “We have listened to the increasing concerns of citizens and law enforcement and I am happy to announce this new program and significant funding to help address this issue in our community.”
According to the province, auto thefts are up 31 per cent for the first six months in 2023 compared to 2022.
The money is designed to aid police investigations and improve prevention of car thefts.
“Auto theft is one of the most significant problems facing our community,” said Windsor police chief Jason Bellaire, noting that earlier this year Windsor police recovered 138 stolen vehicles worth about $9-million.
“The additional resources will enable us to grow our auto theft unit, establish vital new community partnerships, and launch public awareness initiatives to ensure people don’t fall victim to this type of crime.”
Saamer Mansoor is a Windsor man who recently had his car stolen — and it was recovered, thanks to an AirTag he had hidden in the car.
While his car was found, he says he welcomes news that Windsor police will get more money to combat auto theft.
“I think overall it’s a smart idea to have someone dedicated to a specific crime,” Mansoor said.
“Because the response that [police] had definitely could have been improved in a lot of different ways.”
Mansoor said he urged anyone who could afford it to have tracking transponders or AirTags in their cars.
“It seemed like the right thing to do because you’re not just helping yourself, not losing your product, but it’s also you’re helping other people from having their stuff stolen [when the culprits are caught].
“If you can afford it, it’s almost like a civic duty.”
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