Auto theft has fallen in Canada during the first six months of 2024, but incidents remain well above those seen in years past, according to recent data released by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).
There were 17,647 auto theft claims in the first six months of this year, compared with 21,907 in the same period in 2023, the agency said in its report. The 19 percent drop is the first time claims have decreased in the past decade, although they are still above 2021 levels when theft rates began escalating rapidly.
The dip in insurance claims shows efforts over the past six months by law enforcement, insurers, and the government is working, but more needs to be done, says IBC vice-president of strategy Liam McGuinty.
“Canada’s auto theft rates have soared in the last 10 years, placing pressure on drivers’ insurance premiums, compromising public safety, and causing Canadians concern and trauma,” McGuinty said. “While theft frequency dropped slightly in the first six months of 2024, the problem remains significantly above historical trends.”
The number of claims in the first half of 2024 may have fallen by roughly 4,200 since last year, but are still more than double 2014 levels when 7,406 claims were filed, according to agency data. Overall, auto theft claims have increased by 138 percent over the past decade and the value of those claims has “skyrocketed” by 442 percent over that same time period, IBC said.
Looking East
Overall, the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia have recorded the most substantial growth in claims since 2014, with increases of 291 percent, 203 percent, and 87 percent, respectively. Claims in Quebec and Alberta exhibited a slower pace of growth during the same period with increases of 36 percent and 48 percent respectively.This year, however, claims rose 27 percent in Nova Scotia, 14 percent in New Brunswick but remained stable at 0.7 percent growth in Alberta. The trend reversed in Ontario to the tune of 16 percent as well as in Quebec where it fell 41 percent.
The acceleration in thefts in the past three years prompted a meeting of political leaders, law enforcement, and industry stakeholders in the nation’s capital in February to discuss ways to stem the number of cars being stolen and shipped abroad.
Since then, intensified police efforts, particularly in Toronto and the surrounding areas, have resulted in several busts publicized in recent months. The crackdown has led thieves to look to Canada’s more eastern provinces, IBC said.
“Experts credit these regional differences to the opportunistic nature of car thieves, who may be shifting their focus away from provinces like Ontario and Quebec, where law enforcement has invested significantly in combatting auto theft, toward western and Atlantic provinces,” the report said.
Auto theft has become prolific in Canada in recent years, including a rise in organized crime-led car-jackings and vehicle theft-related home invasions. Ottawa has described the operations as “highly lucrative” and “highly sophisticated” with auto theft rings operating coast-to-coast.
Not surprisingly, high-end luxury vehicles continue to be popular targets for auto thieves, due in part to their desirability in illegal international markets, IBC said.
“In many cases, stolen vehicles are exported to these markets by domestic and international criminal organizations,” the report said. “The proceeds are then often used to finance drug trafficking, arms dealing and international terrorism.”
The agency is calling on both the government and law enforcement to tackle fraudulent “re-VINing” of vehicles to prevent overseas shipments. It is also suggesting an overhaul of Canada’s motor vehicle safety standards “to prevent vehicles from being stolen in the first place.”
