.png)
On a cold October morning in 2022, Logan LaFreniere woke up at his home in Milton, Ontario, only to discover that the spot where he usually parked his car was empty. His new Ram Rebel truck had vanished. Security camera footage showed two hooded men breaking into the vehicle during the night and easily driving it away.
LaFreniere's case is not an isolated incident. In 2022, over 105,000 vehicles were stolen in Canada, equivalent to one car stolen every five minutes. Even the federal Minister of Justice of Canada fell victim to this phenomenon, with his Toyota Highlander XLE being stolen twice.
The scale of the problem is such that Interpol included Canada in its list of the top 10 worst countries for car thefts last May, a surprising recognition given that the country only began sharing its data with the international organization in February.
A National Epidemic:
Canadian authorities have emphasized that once stolen, these vehicles are often used to commit other violent crimes, sold to unsuspecting citizens within the country, or shipped abroad for resale. Interpol has identified over 1,500 stolen cars in Canada since February, with approximately 200 additional vehicles being identified each week at international ports.
This surge in car thefts has been so severe that the Insurance Bureau of Canada declared it a "national crisis." In 2023, insurers paid out over CAD 1.5 billion (USD 1.1 billion) in vehicle theft claims.
Customized Theft Protection Measures in Canada:
The growing wave of thefts has prompted many Canadians to take preventive measures to protect their vehicles.
These measures range from installing GPS trackers in vehicles to hiring private security in neighborhoods.
Residents in affected areas, such as Nauman Khan from Mississauga, have responded by establishing businesses dedicated to installing retractable bollards at home entrances, similar to those seen at banks and embassies, to deter thieves.
Khan, who became an entrepreneur after falling victim to car theft, has heard many similar stories of insecurity in his community. The high demand for these services reflects citizens' growing unease amidst the crime wave.
International Comparisons and Causes of the Increase:
Despite its smaller population compared to the U.S. and the U.K., Canada experiences car theft rates that rival those in these countries. In 2022, Canada reported a rate of 262.5 thefts per 100,000 inhabitants, close to the U.S. rate of 300 per 100,000 people and higher than England and Wales, which report 220 thefts per 100,000 people.
The recent increase in thefts is partly due to a global shortage of cars caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has driven up demand for both new and used vehicles. Additionally, the booming international market for certain car models has made car theft a lucrative source of income for criminal organizations.
Lack of Port Controls and Institutional Issues:
Elliott Silverstein, Director of Government Relations at the Canadian Automobile Association, points out that Canada's port system is particularly vulnerable to these crimes due to ineffective controls on exports. While countries like the U.S. use advanced scanners to detect smuggling and other irregularities, Canada's container inspection is limited, and port personnel lack authority to conduct searches without a court order.
Despite significant government promises to improve container inspection capacity at ports and provide more funding to police to combat car theft, serious challenges persist. Chronic understaffing at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and outdated inspection technology contribute to the magnitude of the problem.
Comments