Vehicle theft is on the rise in Atlantic Canada so far this year as auto theft rings move east to escape the police clampdown on organized crime-led car-jackings and vehicle-related home invasions in Ontario and Quebec.
The first half of 2024 saw a 17 percent national decrease in auto theft since the same period in 2023, the report said.
Ontario and Quebec are making some headway in combating theft, reporting 14 percent and 36 percent declines respectively. That compares to the 50 percent rise in auto theft in Quebec and 48.3 percent rise in Ontario in 2022.
Rates are also down 5 percent in Alberta and 10 percent in Western Canada overall.
The drop in auto theft rates can be attributed to law enforcement campaigns targeting organized crime-related thefts, but also to the “many meaningful changes” from federal and provincial governments, the insurance industry, and an increased public awareness, Équité said.
Atlantic Canada is the lone section of the country where auto theft increased, rising 11 percent year-over-year, the report said.
That increase “is likely tied to the strong measures in place to combat auto theft in Ontario and Quebec, forcing thieves to look to other provinces,” Équité said, noting that sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and wagons made between 2010-2016, are the most stolen category of vehicle in the Atlantic provinces.
Despite the auto theft increase in the easternmost section of the country, progress is being made in addressing the problem, the organization says.
Prevention
While Équité identified Public Safety Canada’s auto theft summit in February and the subsequent national action plan and $18 million government commitment as “significant contributors” to the reduction in thefts so far this year, the agency warns against solely relying on these measures.To truly tackle the problem, authorities need to go on the defensive, Équité Association CEO Terri O'Brien says.
“To continue the national decrease in auto theft, there must be a shift from recovering stolen vehicles to preventing vehicles from being stolen in the first place,” Ms. O'Brien said in the press release.
Theft may be on the decline in Ontario and Quebec this year, but it remains an issue. Nearly 18,000 vehicles were stolen in the two provinces during the first half of the year, including 5,532 SUVs in Ontario, and 2,816 SUVs in Quebec.
One way to prevent auto theft from occurring, Ms. O'Brien said, is the use of anti-theft technology.
“Several auto manufacturers have registered anti-theft technology patents,” she said. “By utilizing simple and effective technology that has already been developed and patented, manufacturers have the ability, right now, to mitigate vehicle theft and prioritize public safety.”
The Honda Civic, the lone car on the list, took the sixth spot followed by the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Land Rover Range Rover, the Chevrolet/GMC Silverado/Sierra 1500 series, and the Jeep Wrangler.
