Author: Cult MTL
Published October 17, 2024

by Timothy Edward, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Car theft in Canada saw a 20% reduction in the first half of 2024, while over 1,900 stolen vehicles have been intercepted at the border, according to Transport Minister Anita Anand. This update comes five months after the introduction of a federal action plan including tougher, 14-year prison sentences for those found guilty of car theft.

This initiative was developed in response to an issue that has been described as a “national crisis.” Over 105,000 vehicles were stolen in Canada in 2022, which breaks down to one vehicle stolen every five minutes. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, private auto insurers paid out $1.5-billion in theft claims in 2023, an increase of 254% since 2018.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented on news of the decrease in auto theft yesterday, saying that “more stolen cars are being intercepted and returned to their rightful owners.”

“Auto theft is down in Canada. More stolen cars are being intercepted and returned to their rightful owners. The tools we’ve equipped law enforcement with — new scanners, new penalties and new intelligence sharing systems — are working.”

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