Is Auto Theft on The Decline?
By Carter Hammett
Despite some regional differences, auto and truck thefts decreased by a significant 17% during the first half of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, reports Équité Association.
“These positive national results are a testament to the collaborative efforts of the insurance industry, federal and provincial governments, law enforcement agencies, and Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) to reduce auto theft and disrupt the flow of funds to organized crime,” Équité wrote in its latest report.
Ontario and Quebec were the provinces that saw the largest declines in auto thefts with Ontario down 14% and Quebec down a whopping 36%.
Équité Association attributes this decrease to the ‘strong partnership between police, CBSA and government stakeholders.
SUVs maintain their hold as the most popular kind of vehicle theft, with 5,532 reported stolen in Ontario up to July. There were 2,816 taken in Quebec. Passenger cars are in second place, with 3,414 stolen in Ontario while 1050 were taken in Quebec.
Interestingly enough, the decrease experienced in Quebec and Ontario caused a shift in other provinces, reports Équité. This is illustrated by a 10% decrease in western Canada and a 5% decrease in Alberta.
“There is a ripple effect happening, as vehicles stolen for export in Alberta are primarily exported out of the Port of Montreal. Additionally, the awareness of auto theft and the work that law enforcement is doing to prevent auto theft in the province is having a positive impact,” the organization says.
Trucks are the most stolen category of vehicle out west (3,593) followed by cars (2,692) and SUVs (2,546).
But vehicle theft actually increased in Atlantic Canada by 11% in 2024.
That’s because strong measures to combat theft in Ontario and Quebec have forced thieves to look toward other provinces, Équité says.
Cars (sedans, coupes, hatchbacks and wagons) made between 2010-2016, are the most stolen category of vehicle in the Atlantic provinces, with 383 stolen thus far in 2024.
The three most commonly stolen cars are the Hyundai Elantra and Sonata, followed by the Kia Optima.
More than 28,000 cars have been stolen across Canada so far in 2024.
Thanks Dana!
And a quick note before signing off for this issue. We were saddened to hear that long time contributor and truck pundit Dana Smith has decided to move on to greener pastures. During his years with us, Dana contributed numerous articles on everything from electric trucks to health and wellness, all of it written in the signature plain speak style, he came to be known for. Whatever the topic, Dana was always on top of it, offering words of wisdom derived from years of experience on the road and on the page. We are grateful for his contributions and wish him well on the next leg of his journey.
