When looking at data showing the yearly number of car thefts in Canada, I asked myself if any trends stood out. Quite often we hear about how car thefts are on the rise in Canada, but I wanted to look at the data myself to see if I could identify any outlier statistics. The rise in car thefts in Canada has been well-documented and in the news for some time now. The yearly increase/decrease of car thefts that happened in Canada from 2002 to 2023 is -2,240. At first glance, this seems like a low number. But within the past three years, the average is 12,221 per year. We saw a jump of 22,507 reported vehicle thefts from 2021 to 2022 and 8,940 from 2022 to 2023.
I presented this data and asked Murtaza Haider, a Ryerson University professor and expert in transportation, about his thoughts on the ongoing situation and how he thinks auto manufacturers and the government should deal with it. “The challenge with automobile theft largely stems from what happens after individuals are apprehended. While policing is vital in preventing theft, the legal framework in Canada lacks enough strength to act as a deterrent. Reports have indicated that some individuals caught for auto theft are released on bail and continue stealing vehicles,” says Haider.
Mr. Haider’s insight on the situation is thought-provoking since he says that the Canadian legal system is not strong enough to deter thieves from stealing vehicles and if an individual is caught, they may be released and continue to commit crimes.
“To combat this issue effectively, Canada needs a collaboration with automobile manufacturers. They could develop technology to disable stolen vehicles if unauthorized movement is detected. Additionally, enhancing legal measures to ensure proper prosecution and implementing significant penalties for auto theft would be essential in deterring such actions,” says Haider.
The idea of some sort of collaboration between automobile manufacturers is an interesting take. Some sort of technology built into vehicles that would disable a car if stolen is something that would be worth a look at if car companies are willing to make an investment to stop this issue. His second suggestion of enhancing legal measures and implementing harsher punishments for car theft to deter thieves is a well-thought-out idea as well. Giving harsher punishments for the crime will make potential thieves hesitant and in turn gradually lower the number of thefts per year.
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https://driving.ca/auto-news/local-content/car-theft-ontario-canada-federal-investment-summit
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