Canadian drivers are increasingly worried about vehicle theft, a concern heightened by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the emergence of more sophisticated tactics used by thieves, a new survey suggests.
Nearly half of Canadians say they’re more concerned than ever about car theft, while 36 percent report feeling unsafe due to the ongoing risk of having their vehicle stolen, a new survey from The Co-operators found.
Sixty-three percent of those polled identified lasting emotional distress and a sense of violation as key impacts of vehicle theft. But car theft doesn’t just take an emotional toll, it takes a financial one too, respondents said.
Seventy-two percent of those surveyed anticipate a financial strain when replacing or repairing a stolen vehicle, and the same percentage expect their insurance premiums to rise.
“Whether the cost is emotional or financial, Canadians simply cannot afford to face the ongoing crisis of vehicle theft,” Co-operators vice-president of home and auto insurance Tara Laidman said in a press release.
“Disruptions and uncertainty in supply chains will only drive-up costs and replacement times, compounding an issue that has already sent shockwaves through communities.”
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Ontario residents are the most likely to call for stronger preventative car theft measures nationwide, the survey found, noting that 46 percent of the Ontarians surveyed reported either personal or second-hand exposure to vehicle theft—the highest in the country.
While vehicle theft in Ontario decreased by 16 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to government statistics, it has been on the upswing over the past decade.
The number of insurance claims due to theft fell by roughly 4,200 in the first half of 2024 since the previous year, but was still more than double 2014 levels, according to Insurance Bureau of Canada data.
Overall, auto theft claims increased by 138 percent between 2012 and 2024 and the value of those claims “skyrocketed” by 442 percent over that same time period, the bureau said. Ontario has recorded the most substantial growth in claims since 2014 at 291 percent.
The rise in auto thefts is taking a toll on drivers, Laidman said.
“Vehicle owners are burnt out, and the onus is on the insurance industry, government and police to stay focused on our efforts to reduce the burden vehicle theft is placing on Canadians,” she said.
Theft Prevention
Ottawa launched a comprehensive National Action Plan last May to address auto theft through a country-wide crackdown that saw all levels of government working with law enforcement and the auto industry. Since then, auto thefts have decreased nearly 20 percent nationally while thefts are down 16 percent in Ontario.
The crackdown on auto thefts has led criminals to increasingly turn to keyless entry technology to steal cars.
While 73 percent of those surveyed by the Co-operators say they are heavily dependent on their vehicles, few Canadians are investing in technology-based solutions to keep their vehicles safe, despite the rise in keyless entry thefts. Most vehicle owners take basic preventative steps like locking doors—88 percent—or not leaving the vehicle unattended while running—75 percent—but only 29 percent use an anti-theft alarm system, the survey found.
Thirteen percent have used a steering wheel lock, 11 percent use window VIN etching, 10 percent use a TAG anti-theft system, and 8 percent use a faraday pouch for their key fobs to prevent keyless entry theft by blocking radio frequency signals.
Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said auto theft methods have changed immensely since 2020.
“We’re seeing a level of sophistication in vehicle theft that wasn’t common even five years ago,” Milinovich said in the press release. “These aren’t one-off incidents. They’re coordinated, fast-moving and often linked to larger criminal operations.”
Much of the auto theft in Canada stems from organized crime, the government said, describing the operations as “highly lucrative” and “highly sophisticated” with rings operating coast-to-coast.
Stolen vehicles are typically used in one of two ways, the government said. Gangs are either working with organized crime groups to send the vehicles to the Middle East and Africa, or the cars are being used to commit crimes within Canada before they are destroyed.
