Car theft finally decelerating in Canada after surge — a ‘positive sign’

Vehicle thefts successful Canada are yet decreasing aft an uptick successful caller years.

A caller study published by nan non-profit Équité Association connected Tuesday showed a 17 per cent nationalist diminution successful auto theft successful nan first six months of 2024, compared pinch nan aforesaid play past year.

Équité said this promising inclination tin beryllium attributed to nan collaborative efforts of nan national and provincial governments, rule enforcement agencies, nan Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) and nan security industry.

Increased investments, nationalist consciousness and information-sharing person helped reverse nan inclination of car theft, according to nan report.

Bryan Gast, vice president of investigative Services astatine Équité Association, said he was “cautiously optimistic” astir nan caller data, adding that much activity needs to beryllium done.

“I’m not suggesting that we’ve resolved nan car theft situation successful Canada, but it is promising to spot that a batch of nan efforts that person been put into spot complete nan past twelvemonth aliases so, there’s a affirmative sign, and nan results are reflective of that,” he told Global News successful an interview.

“Not only are nan thefts down, but nan recoveries are up, which is simply a bully combination,” he said.

Over nan past year, nan national government, on pinch rule enforcement agencies, separator officials and different manufacture stakeholders, person stepped up efforts to curb conveyance theft successful nan country.

A nationalist summit connected combatting car theft was held successful Ottawa successful February to reside nan problem.

The national authorities unveiled an action scheme successful May, including measures and backing announced successful nan weeks since nan acme was held.

It besides featured changes to nan Criminal Code, specified arsenic stiffer penalties and caller offences targeting car thieves and nan devices they use, that were included successful nan latest national budget.

Gast said a batch of nan efforts that are nether measurement are focusing connected going aft organized crime groups.

He said nan extremity is to proceed applying unit and resources to spot a diminution successful car theft complete a longer period.

“I deliberation 1 of nan areas that still needs to beryllium worked connected is making nan conveyance harder to bargain successful nan first place,” Gast said.

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So acold this year, 8,398 pickup trucks, 7,539 cars and 1,448 vans person been stolen crossed Canada, according to Équité.

Among nan provinces, Quebec has seen nan sharpest driblet this twelvemonth astatine 36 per cent, followed by Ontario, wherever conveyance theft has decreased by 14 percent year-over year.

In some provinces, SUVs continued to beryllium nan astir stolen class of vehicles pinch 5,532 stolen successful Ontario and 2,816 stolen successful Quebec, nan study said.

In Western Canada, car theft declined by 10 per cent successful nan January to June period. Alberta, wherever trucks are nan apical stolen vehicles, knowledgeable a 5 per cent drop. Meanwhile, nan Atlantic provinces reported an 11 per cent jump successful conveyance theft.

Equite said this was apt owed to reliable measures put successful spot to combat car theft successful Ontario and Quebec, forcing thieves to run successful different provinces.

“A batch of attraction has been connected Ontario and Quebec, Alberta and immoderate of nan different provinces and criminals will look for points of slightest resistance,” Gast said.

Experts person antecedently called conveyance theft a so-called “epidemic” successful Canada.

Nationally, much than 80,000 vehicles were stolen successful nan past year, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. In 2022, car theft claims amounted to $1.2 billion, pinch $700 cardinal successful Ontario alone.

Canadians could spot moreover higher car security premiums this year, according to Ratesdotca study from January.

Transport Canada is presently carrying retired an unfastened consultation to reappraisal and modernize nan existent standards that vehicles that are manufactured aliases sold successful Canada are expected to adhere to.

Gast said that could beryllium a “significant measurement forward.”

“We’re not astatine nan decorativeness line. We request to proceed doing what we’re doing.”

— With files from Global News’ Sean Boynton