Auto Theft In Canada Is A National Crisis

You’ve likely heard about the increased rates of vehicles being stolen, seen the most stolen vehicles in Canada list shared online, or read about how vehicles are being exported or dismantled for their parts. Did you know catalytic converters can be worth $800 to $1200? Many vehicle thefts occur in Ontario and Quebec, with vehicles exported through the port of Montreal.

In February 2024, officials from provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, as well as industry leaders and law enforcement representatives from across Canada, gathered at the National Summit on Combating Auto Theft. The summit is part of the Government of Canada's efforts to combat serious and organized crime and ensure community safety.

The primary goal of the summit is to identify short, medium, and long-term actions to combat auto theft. It will also help to strengthen joint initiatives that are already underway. Federal officials state that Canada has robust laws in place to address auto theft at various stages of the crime, including the possession and trafficking of stolen property, and tampering with Vehicle Identification Numbers.

Moreover, the Criminal Code includes comprehensive measures to target organized crime, including specific offences and enhanced sentencing for violent acts, such as assault with a weapon.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reported that private auto insurers in Canada paid out a record-breaking $1.2 billion in theft claims in 2022. This amount is three times higher than what was paid out in 2018. The trend of increasing payouts continued in the first half of 2023.

Ontario alone saw a staggering 329% increase in auto theft claims during the same period. The province suffered losses of over $700 million, with the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) alone accounting for $500 million of these losses. The 905 belt, which includes Durham, Halton, and York, experienced a 500% increase in auto theft – needless to say, car theft is increasing auto insurance.

At the forum, the federal government also said it would be using existing tools at its disposal to help curb auto theft, which resulted in $ 1.2 billion worth of fraudulent insurance claims in 2023, per Équité, an industry organization with a mandate to prevent and reduce insurance fraud.

According to the Minister of Public Safety’s statement, these tools include:

• The federal government announced $28 million in funding to help the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) conduct more investigations and examinations of stolen vehicles. The money will also be used to promote better sharing of information between Canadian police authorities and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
• The federal government said it would pursue “all avenues to ban devices used to steal vehicles by copying the wireless signals for remote keyless entry, such as the Flipper Zero, which would allow for the removal of those devices from the Canadian marketplace through collaboration with law enforcement agencies.”
• Public Safety Canada, CBSA, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will work with partners across Canada and internationally to increase collaboration and information-sharing.
• Transport Canada will modernize the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to ensure they consider technological advancements to deter and prevent theft.
• Transport Canada will work with Public Safety Canada to identify “cargo handling vulnerabilities through targeted security assessments of port facilities” and then update security plans accordingly, Public Safety says.
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) will work with Canadian companies, including the automotive industry, to develop innovative solutions to protect vehicles against theft, such as the Tag car tracking system.
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hinted the federal government is also “looking at further strengthening penalties for anyone who participates in auto theft.”