Car thefts in several provinces have fallen since government agencies, law enforcement and industry stakeholders joined forces to combat Canada’s theft problem, which has grown in recent years.
In a report released Tuesday, Équité Association – a not-for-profit organization that assists in insurance fraud and crime investigations – said the number of auto thefts in Canada dropped 17 per cent in the first half of 2024, compared with the same period last year.
The decline is largely owing to the collective efforts of the insurance industry, federal and provincial governments, law enforcement agencies, Canada Border Service Agency and public awareness, said Bryan Gast, vice-president of investigative services at Équité Association.
“While it is fantastic to see this decline occur after the collaboration of so many organizations, it is still early days and there’s no room for complacency,” Mr. Gast said in an interview. “We need to continue focus on preventing auto thefts before they even occur.”
Canada now ranks among the top 10 countries that international police organization Interpol sees in its stolen motor vehicle database for 2024, out of 137 countries connected worldwide.
Earlier this year, the federal government announced a national strategy to combat the increase in auto theft, which includes a boost in funding for law enforcement agencies and the CBSA, proposed changes to make it illegal to own or sell electronic devices that are commonly used to steal cars, and proposed amendments to the Criminal Code to impose stricter penalties for thefts tied to violence, organized crime and money laundering.
“All levels of government are stepping up – auto theft is no longer seen as just a victimless crime, or a property crime,” Mr. Gast said, pointing to the Ontario government’s $18-million commitment to help police services crack down on auto theft.
Ontario and Quebec are starting to see some momentum, reporting the largest declines in the number of auto thefts in Canada, down 14 per cent and 36 per cent, respectively. This compares with a 50-per-cent jump in auto theft for both provinces in 2022.
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The two regions, which continue to see SUVs most often targeted, are densely populated areas that are within driving distance to the Port of Montreal, a popular destination for stolen cargo with connections to major roadways and rail lines. Almost 18,000 vehicles were stolen in Ontario and Quebec in the first six months of this year. That includes about 5,532 SUVs in Ontario, and 2,816 SUVs in Quebec.
This year’s decline in auto theft in Ontario and Quebec has had a “ripple effect” across Canada, the report says. In Western Canada, the number of stolen vehicles dropped by 10 per cent, with Alberta, which has stolen vehicles primarily transported to Montreal for export, seeing a decline of 5 per cent. Stolen vehicles in Alberta are most commonly pickup trucks.
In Atlantic Canada, the ripple effect wasn’t as positive, with thefts climbing by 11 per cent. Équité said the increase is likely tied to the strong measures put in place in Ontario and Quebec that are now forcing thieves to look to other provinces.
The proceeds of auto theft are commonly used to finance domestic drug trafficking, arms dealing, human trafficking and international terrorism. Mr. Gast said this year’s momentum has helped disrupt the flow of money for both domestic and international criminal organizations.
“However, to truly ensure the safety of Canadian communities, it will require a sustained commitment towards preventing vehicle theft altogether,” he added in a statement.
Last year, the cost of insurance claims for replacing stolen vehicles in Canada skyrocketed to a record $1.5-billion, according a report by the Insurance Bureau of Canada. It was the second year in a row that auto theft claims costs topped $1-billion. The previous four-year national average, between 2018 and 2021, was $556-million. (Auto theft claims for 2024 are not yet calculated.)
IBC spokesperson Andrew Bartucci said the sheer volume of thefts and the associated claims costs “remains troubling,” and while premium changes can’t be predicted because auto theft is just one factor that affects pricing, Canada’s auto theft crisis is “placing pressure on claims costs.”
“Continued collaboration amongst all stakeholders – insurers, law enforcement, government and manufacturers – is needed to effectively fight theft. Insurers have rolled up their sleeves but they can’t do it alone,” Mr. Bartucci said.
Mr. Gast said making it harder for criminals to succeed in their operations – whether that involves reselling domestically or exporting to countries in Europe, West Africa or the Middle East – is crucial to solving the large-scale problem in Canada.
“Criminals adapt and try and find other solutions, the goal is to be right on pace with them,” he added.
Another part of the equation involves making it harder to steal the vehicle in the first place, he said. Auto manufacturers are weighing in on how to produce effective anti-theft devices – as well on what standards are required to be successful.
“There’s an open consultation right now with Transport Canada looking to modernize the current safety standards in preventing auto theft and what that might look like in the future,” Mr. Gast said. “That’s a very big piece of the equation that needs still to be addressed and without it, it’s still going to be a very big uphill battle.”