Update

While far from being solved, the auto theft problem seems to be easing for the first time in several years.

Media reports indicate auto theft is down 17% across Canada in the first 6 months of 2024, and the momentum is credited to ceaseless efforts throughout 2023 / 2024 by government and industry to tackle the crisis.

In Ontario, auto theft decreased by 14% while Quebec saw a 36% decline in stolen vehicles.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada paid around $1.5 billion in claims in 2023, a record high. That year, vehicle thefts rose by 50% in Quebec and almost as much in Ontario.

Insurers have said the majority of vehicles are being stolen from Ontario and Quebec and exported through the Port of Montreal.

Around 1.7 million containers moved through the port last year, including 70% of Canada’s legal vehicle exports, according to port authorities.

The federal government estimates 90,000 cars are stolen each year in Canada and many of the thefts involve connections to organized crime.

These are early days yet, but any kind of positive news on this front is a rare and welcome development. We hope to see further action on several fronts over the coming months.

The UCDA will continue its actions in this area. For more information on that, please visit https://tinyurl.com/4mssn34k.

See the full news article here: https://tinyurl.com/tyxycyrh.