On October 22, Logan LaFreniere woke up to the realization that his recently purchased Ram Rebel truck was not parked in his driveway in Milton, Canada, Ontario. The security camera footage he checked later showed him two men wearing hoods when they entered and took off with it after breaking into the vehicle. Months later, the truck appeared on a website for car sales in Ghana, 8,500 km away. LaFreniere recognized it by the distinctive laptop holder installed for his son, complete with his son still inside.
Widespread Issue
LaFreniere serience is common. In 2022, over 105,000 cars were stolen in Canada, roughly one every five minutes. Even Canada’s justice minister had stolen his government-issued Toyota Highlander XLE twice. Interpol has identified Canada as one of the top 10 worst countries for car thefts, a significant statistic given that Canada only began sharing data with the organization in February.
Aftermath of Car Thefts
Stolen cars in Canada often end up being used for other crimes, sold domestically, or shipped overseas. Interpol has detected more than 1,500 stolen Canadian cars worldwide since February, with about 200 more identified each week, typically at foreign ports. The Insurance Bureau of Canada has declared car theft a “nat” on the crisis,” with insurers paying over C$1.5 billion in claims last year.
Measures to Combat Theft
Authorities have urged the public to take precautions to protect their vehicles. At the same time, some Canadians have resorted to installing trackers, hiring private security, or even placing retractable bollards in their driveways. Nauman Khan from Mississauga started a bollard-installation business after experiencing car thefts himself. He now hears similar stories from clients who have taken extreme measures to protect their properties.
Comparative Statistics
In terms of car theft rate, Canada (262.5 per 100,000 people) exceeds England and Wales (220 per 100,000 people) despite its smaller population and is only slightly lower than the US (300 per 100,000 people). Thefts have risen because of a pandemic-caused car shortage that has driven up demand for new and used cars alike; this has, in turn, attracted organized crime groups, who now capitalize on stolen vehicles as a source of income.
Problems at Canadian Ports
Canadian ports concentrate primarily on imports rather than exports, making the latter more susceptible to theft. For example, a recent investigation by the Toronto Police Service recovered approximately C$60 million worth of vehicles—1,080 in total—but such operations are complex due to the number of containers and inspection limits. CBSA is plagued by understaffing and antiquated technology that hamstrings efforts against auto theft.
Government and Manufacturer Response
The Canadian government has promised millions to improve CBSA capabilities and support police action. However, experts like Elliott Silverstein from the Canadian Automobile Association argue. Manufacturers must make cars more challenging to steal altogether.
Personal Measures & Ongoing Challenges
After his truck was stolen, Lafreniere bought a Toyota Tundra with an engine immobilizer, tag tracker, and steering wheel club. Thieves broke into it, unsuccessfully, by breaking the back window. In contrast, he tried to steal it again, even though he had taken all possible precautions. Such as parking it inside his house. Frustrated by this incident, he was left disillusioned. Lafreniere eventually sold the repaired vehicle off, feeling disillusioned about security effectiveness, having witnessed their failure firsthand.
Car thefts in Canada are so numerous now they can be considered an epidemic with devastating financial impacts for victims who often suffer emotionally as well. The government is working alongside various law enforcement agencies across provinces to mitigate this multifaceted issue. However, concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including manufacturers. Suppose we are to make any headway against what is fast becoming a national crisis. It will need to beef up security features on their products.
