Collective efforts to thank for 2024 auto theft reduction

"Équité's team of experts collaborated with provincial and federal governments, Canadian Border Services Agency and law enforcement agencies at all levels to continue the downward trend. Momentum is on our side to disrupt criminal networks from profiting off insurance fraud, as we work on behalf of our industry members to prevent vehicle theft in Canada."

This decline is compared to 2023, which saw 70,475 vehicle thefts; 2022, which saw 70,082 thefts; and 2021, which saw 53,382.

The wider picture on vehicle theft in Canada

These figures encompass sedans, coupes, hatchbacks and wagons, trucks, SUVs and vans reported stolen in Canada. Recovery rates referenced in the report are based on preliminary recovery vehicle data.

By region, vehicle thefts saw a 17.4% decrease in Ontario, a 32.4% decrease in Quebec, no change in Atlantic Canada and a 12.7% decrease in Western Canada.

The national recovery rate for stolen vehicles is 59.3%, which means 40% of vehicles stolen are not recovered. Stolen vehicle recovery rates by region are broken down into 50.8% in Ontario, 43.6% in Quebec, 64.0% in Atlantic Canada and 77.4% in Western Canada.

"Organized crime networks are being funded through insurance crime and auto theft," Bryan Gast, Équité Association’s vice-president of investigative services, said in a statement.

"Our investigative teams work closely with national and international law enforcement agencies, enable industry collaboration and provide cutting-edge intelligence to combat insurance crime. However, the single most impactful step we can take to prevent the continued funding of organized crime networks, including drug trafficking, remains making the vehicles harder to steal in the first place."

Regional breakdowns

This marked the first time vehicle thefts decreased in Ontario and Quebec year-over-year. As well, the majority of vehicle thefts in the two provinces were those manufactured in 2017 or later, which the report states is because organized crime rings are focused on stealing newer, luxury vehicles.

SUVs were the most stolen vehicle type in Ontario (42%) and Quebec (55%).

In Atlantic Canada, the most common type of stolen vehicle was those made between 2010 and 2016.

Meanwhile, trucks were the most stolen vehicle type in Western Canada at 38%. Notably 42% of all stolen private passenger vehicles in Alberta were trucks.