The auto theft crisis in Canada is impacting many provinces, notably Québec and Ontario, but a poll commissioned by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) shows that residents in Brampton, Ont., may be feeling the effects more acutely than other Ontario residents.
Seventy-three per cent of Brampton residents are concerned that their vehicle will be stolen, according to Amanda Dean, Interim Vice-President, Ontario, at IBC. In a news release, she said these residents have good reason to be concerned, since the number of theft claims in Brampton jumped 133% between 2018 and 2022. Furthermore, the cost of those claims rose nearly 400%.
“Vehicle thefts in Brampton outpace the auto theft rate in other parts of Ontario by about 20%,” said Dean in a statement. “That’s saying something considering Ontario has the highest rate of auto thefts in the country. While we need a whole-of-society approach that includes all levels of government, insurers and auto manufacturers to solve this crisis, there are steps you can take to prevent your vehicle from being stolen.”
The company suggests that drivers follow Équité Association’s layered approach, which covers four categories: simple steps, (install) visible or audible anti-theft devices, (install) vehicle immobilizers, and tracking devices (investing in a tracking system).
In its news release, IBC also said auto theft costs every Ontario driver an average of $130 a year: the amount of their auto insurance premium that goes toward settling claims for stolen vehicles. “Ontarians pay more than $1.6 billion to cover the societal costs associated with auto theft — from law enforcement and court resources, to the anguish of being victimized, to general economic costs,” said IBC.
