Motor vehicle theft in Canada, 2007

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by Mia Dauvergne

Motor vehicle theft one of the most frequent offences in Canada
Motor vehicle theft decreasing since mid-1990s
Manitoba reports highest rate of motor vehicle theft for 11^th straight year
Motor vehicle theft rates highest among 15 to 18-year-olds
Motor vehicle theft and organized crime
One-third of vehicles stolen from private property
Summary
Detailed data tables
References
Notes

Motor vehicle theft is a crime that affects many Canadians, both directly and indirectly. The financial cost to consumers, police, insurance companies and governments has been estimated by the Insurance Bureau of Canada at more than $1 billion annually. Stolen vehicles that become involved in police chases or reckless driving can cause injury or death to innocent bystanders. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, each year approximately 40 people die and another 65 are injured as a result of motor vehicle thefts (ICBC, n.d.).

In Canada, there are two surveys that collect nationally representative data on motor vehicle thefts. One is the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey,¹ which gathers information on all motor vehicle thefts that are reported to, and substantiated by, police services. The other is the General Social Survey (GSS), which collects information from Canadians who self-report criminal victimizations. The focus of this article is on incidents of police-reported motor vehicle theft from the UCR Survey.

Police-reported motor vehicle thefts are incidents in which a land-based motorized vehicle is taken, or attempted to be taken, without the owner's authorization^.2 It includes incidents in which the perpetrator has the intent to steal a vehicle but is unsuccessful in doing so (herein referred to as "attempted" motor vehicle thefts) as well as completed incidents.

The number of police-reported motor vehicle thefts may under-estimate the actual number of motor vehicle thefts in Canada, as not all incidents come to the attention of police. The GSS on Victimization, last conducted in 2004, found that about 7 in 10 motor vehicle thefts were reported to police, although this figure climbed to 89% when losses totalled $1,000 or more.

Motor vehicle theft one of the most frequent offences in Canada

Motor vehicle theft is one of the most frequent police-reported offences in Canada, behind only theft under $5,000, mischief, break and enter and common assault. In 2007, police reported approximately 146,000 motor vehicle thefts (Table 1), an average of about 400 stolen vehicles per day. More than half (54%) were cars; another 35% were trucks, vans or SUVs; 4% were motorcycles and the remaining 8% were other types of vehicles. In addition, there were about 2,500 motor vehicles that were stolen during the commission of another, more serious, offence.

Motor vehicle theft is one of the least likely crimes to be solved by police. Of all vehicle thefts in 2007, only 11% resulted in an accused person being identified by police. In comparison, 22% of all other property-related offences were solved by police.

Motor vehicle theft decreasing since mid-1990s

Unlike most other police-reported crimes which peaked in the early 1990s, motor vehicle theft reached its highest point in 1996. Since then, the rate has gradually decreased, including a 9% decline from 2006 to 2007; however, it continues to remain well above the levels seen decades earlier (Chart 1).

Information from the General Social Survey shows that the proportion of motor vehicle thefts reported to police remained stable between 1999 and 2004. As such, the decline in police-reported motor vehicle thefts over this period appears to be an actual decrease, rather than a change in reporting practices.

Chart 1
Police-reported motor vehicle thefts in Canada, 1977 to 2007

Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Aggregate Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

Counts for all types of crime include both "attempted" and "completed" incidents. However, the proportion of attempted incidents is higher for motor vehicle thefts than for most other offences. Attempted motor vehicle thefts include, for example, incidents in which there is evidence of tampering with the vehicle's ignition or security mechanism but the vehicle is not actually stolen. In 2007, 14% of all motor vehicle thefts were classified by police as attempted compared to 2% of all other Criminal Code offences.

A closer look at the past five years among a sub-set of police services shows that the proportion of attempted motor vehicle thefts has risen slightly.³ In other words, police are reporting a decline in the overall incidence of motor vehicle theft in Canada as well as a decline in the proportion of vehicles that are successfully taken.

Some of the recent decrease in police-reported motor vehicle theft may be due to the implementation of specialized policies and programs by many police services, insurance companies and governments. For example, police in Regina and Winnipeg have developed comprehensive prevention strategies that specifically target youth (Regina Police Service, 2004; Linden and Munn-Venn, 2008). Other police services, including those in Vancouver and the surrounding area, have operated the Bait Car Program which uses police-owned decoy vehicles that, if stolen, can be monitored through surveillance and GPS tracking (Baitcar.com). Another initiative in British Columbia, called Project No Free Ride, recovers the financial costs associated with auto theft through civil litigation of persons responsible (ICBC, 2006).

Auto insurance companies in several provinces are also working towards reducing motor vehicle theft. Some companies now offer financial incentives to customers who have an immobilizer or another anti-theft device installed in their vehicle (IBC, n.d.). An electronic immobilizer is a security device that automatically engages when the vehicle is turned off. It interrupts the power supply to three vital circuits: the starter, the ignition and the fuel pump, and only when the correctly coded key is used are the circuits re-enabled. In 2006, Manitoba Public Insurance went one step further and now requires all "most-at-risk" vehicles to be equipped with an approved immobilizer before vehicle registration and on-road coverage can be renewed by owners (MPI, n.d.). Research by Transport Canada suggests that immobilizers are effective in reducing the incidence of auto theft, particularly among youth (Transport Canada, 2007). None of the top-10 most frequently stolen vehicles in Canada for 2007 were equipped with immobilizers that met national standards (see Text Box 1).

Both federal and provincial governments have responded to the issue of motor vehicle theft. On September 1, 2007, a new federal regulation took effect requiring Canadian automobile manufacturers to equip all new cars, vans, light trucks and SUVs with an electronic immobilizer (Transport Canada, 2007). Most provinces have established task forces that work in partnership with police and auto insurance companies to combat motor vehicle theft, particularly in relation to organized crime operations as well as youth offending.

Manitoba reports highest rate of motor vehicle theft for 11^th straight year

In contrast to Canada as a whole, Manitoba's rate of police-reported motor vehicle theft gradually climbed until 2004. Since then, vehicle theft rates in Manitoba have declined in two of the past three years, including a 10% drop in 2007. However, the province's 2007 rate remained the highest in the country (Chart 2) for the 11^th straight year and was 24% higher than a decade ago (Table 1). Manitoba's rate is driven by Winnipeg which, in 2007, accounted for about two-thirds of the province's population but 86% of its motor vehicle thefts.

Chart 2
Police-reported motor vehicle thefts by province and territory, 2007

Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Aggregate Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

High rates of motor vehicle theft in Winnipeg are not new – Winnipeg's rate has either been the highest or among the highest in Canada for the past 15 years. Although Winnipeg's 2007 rate fell 11% from the previous year, it was 71% greater than Abbotsford's, the city with the second highest rate (Chart 3). Winnipeg was one of only four CMAs to report a higher rate than 10 years ago, although the increase in Edmonton was greater over the same time period (Table 2).

Some research has suggested that the high incidence of motor vehicle theft in Winnipeg stems from a well-established youth culture that regards auto theft as a form of recreation, commonly known as "joy-riding" (Linden and Munn-Venn, 2008). In 2007, half of all solved motor vehicle thefts in Winnipeg involved young people aged 15 to 18 years, compared to less than one-third for the rest of Canada.

In Winnipeg, and consequently Manitoba, the proportion of police-reported motor vehicle thefts that are attempted (and not completed) is much higher than elsewhere in the country. However, even when examining only completed incidents, the 2007 rate of vehicle theft was highest in Winnipeg, although the rate was much closer to those reported in other CMAs (Table 2).

In 2007, the Winnipeg Police Service saw a 33% decrease in the number of completed vehicle thefts and a 32% increase in attempted thefts. This may have been partially due to concerted efforts by the province to target auto theft in Winnipeg. In 2005, Manitoba's Auto Theft Task Force established the Winnipeg Auto Theft Suppression Strategy which focuses on three key areas: supervision of high-rate offenders, installation of electronic immobilizers in at-risk vehicles and working with young people and their families to reduce the number of new offenders (Linden and Munn-Venn, 2008).

High rates of auto theft are not limited to Manitoba, or more specifically, to Winnipeg. As with police-reported crime in general, motor vehicle theft rates tend to be higher in western and northern Canada than in the east. While the rates in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Alberta and British Columbia were approximately half that in Manitoba, they were still about five times higher than those in Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island (Chart 2). Canada's census metropolitan areas (CMAs) show a similar geographical pattern (Chart 3), with Saint John reporting the lowest rate for the fourth year in a row.

Chart 3
Police-reported motor vehicle thefts by census metropolitan area, 2007

Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Aggregate Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

Motor vehicle theft rates highest among 15 to 18-year-olds

Similar to other property-related offences such as break and enter or mischief, motor vehicle theft is a crime often associated with youth (Dhami, 2008). In a pilot study of young auto theft offenders, "joy-riding", transportation and thrill-seeking were found to be the primary motivations for youth who steal vehicles (Anderson and Linden, 2002).

In 2007, police identified about 16,000 persons accused of motor vehicle theft in Canada. The rate was highest among 15 to 18-year olds and gradually tapered with increasing age (Chart 4). Accused persons 15 to 18 years of age accounted for 3 in 10 solved vehicle thefts.

Chart 4
Persons accused of motor vehicle theft, 2007

Note: Excludes accused persons under the age of 12 years and those whose age was reported by police as unknown.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Aggregate Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

Motor vehicle theft and organized crime

Another prime motivation for stealing vehicles is for profit (CISC, 2005). Some stolen vehicles are loaded onto shipping containers and exported to foreign countries for re-sale. Others are sold locally using false identification numbers (VINs), or sent to "chop shops" to be dismantled and sold for parts. These types of motor vehicle thefts tend to require larger criminal networks and are therefore more often associated with organized crime operations (CISC, 2005).

The extent to which organized crime groups are responsible for motor vehicle theft is difficult to measure. The Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) as well as Public Safety Canada suggest that the proportion of non-recovered vehicles can be used as an indication of the degree of organized crime involvement (CISC, 2005; Porteous, 1998). This is because vehicles that are stolen for re-sale purposes are not usually recovered by police whereas vehicles used for "joy-riding" or as a temporary means of transportation are typically abandoned and later found (Porteous, 1998). This proxy measure of organized crime involvement has been accepted and utilized by researchers since the early 1990s (Clarke and Harris, 1992; Tremblay et al., 1994; Wallace, 2004).

In 2007, about 4 in 10 stolen vehicles were not recovered by police, suggesting that a substantial proportion of motor vehicle thefts are related to organized crime. According to the CISC, organized crime groups involved in vehicle-related crime operate primarily out of Montréal and Toronto (CISC, 2008). Montréal not only reported the highest number of motor vehicle thefts in the country, but this city also had the lowest recovery rate. Toronto recorded the second highest number of motor vehicle thefts, but a recovery rate that was closer to the national average. In Winnipeg, where "joy-riding" is known to be prevalent, the large majority (82%) of stolen motor vehicles were recovered by police (Table 2).

One-third of vehicles stolen from private property

In 2007, most stolen vehicles were taken from public areas such as parking lots (32%), the street or other open area (24%), commercial establishments (e.g. shopping centres) (9%), or public institutions (e.g. schools) (2%). About one-third of stolen vehicles were taken from the relative security of a person's private property, usually late at night or in the daytime during regular work hours.

Relatively few vehicles were stolen from car dealerships or rental agencies (1%). These vehicles tend to be newer models that are usually equipped with immobilizers or other anti-theft devices and, hence, more difficult to steal. As a result, a new scheme has emerged, usually in connection with an organized crime operation, in which offenders "lease" vehicles and never return them (Egan, 2008).

Summary

Motor vehicles are typically stolen for one of two reasons: "joy-riding" or for profit. "Joy-riding" is usually associated with youth who steal cars as a form of recreation whereas vehicles stolen for profit are more often the result of organized crime operations. Police-reported statistics indicate that motor vehicle theft has been generally declining since the mid-1990s, although the rate in Manitoba continues to be well above the rest of Canada. Part of the overall decrease may be attributed to auto theft prevention programs that target youth as well as the increased use of electronic immobilizers.

Detailed data tables

Table 1 Police-reported motor vehicle thefts, by province and territory, 2007

Table 2 Police-reported motor vehicle thefts, by census metropolitan area, 2007

References

Anderson, Jeff and Rick Linden. 2002. Summary Report: Pilot Study of Juvenile Auto Theft Offenders. Unpublished manuscript, University of Manitoba.

Baitcar.com (see www.baitcar.com/about)

Clarke, R. and P. Harris. 1992. "Auto Theft and its Prevention". In M. Tonry (ed.) Crime and Justice, Vol. 16. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC). 2005. "2005 Annual Report on Organized Crime in Canada". (see www.cisc-scrc.gc.ca)

Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC). 2008. "2008 Annual Report on Organized Crime". (see www.cisc-scrc.gc.ca)

Dhami, Mandeep, K. 2008. "Youth Auto Theft: A Survey of a General Population of Canadian Youth". Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Vol. 50, Issue 2. Pp. 187 to 209.

Egan, Kelly. October 9, 2008. "Airport rental lots hot spot for car thieves". Montreal Gazette.

Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). n.d. "FAQs: IBCs Theft Deterrent Program". (see www.ibc.ca)

Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). December 19, 2007. Top 10 Most Stolen Cars – 2007. (see www.ibc.ca/en/Insurance_Crime/Top_Ten_Stolen_Cars/2007.asp)

Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). September 11, 2006. "ICBC Announces No Free Ride for Auto Thieves".
(see www.icbc.com/inside_icbc/september2006news.asp).

Linden, Rick and Trefor Munn-Venn. 2008. "Making Communities Safer: Lessons Learned Combating Auto Theft in Winnipeg". Ottawa: Conference Board of Canada, National Security and Public Safety.

Manitoba Public Insurance. (MPI). n.d. "Auto Theft" (see www.mpi.mb.ca/english/autotheft/AutoTheft.html)

Porteous, Samuel, D. 1998. "Organized Crime Impact Study". Catalogue No. JS42-83/1998. Ottawa: Public Works and Government Services of Canada.

Regina Police Service. 2004. "Regina Auto Theft Strategy".

Transport Canada. September 6, 2007. News Release no. H 167/07. "Anti-Theft Devices Deter Vehicle Thieves". (see www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2007/07-h167e.htm)

Tremblay, Pierre, Yvan Clermont and Maurice Cusson. 1994. "Jockeys and Joyriders: Changing Patterns in Car Theft Opportunity Structures". British Journal of Criminology. Vol. 34, No. 3. Pp. 307 to 321.

Wallace, Marnie. 2004. "Exploring the Involvement of Organized Crime in Motor Vehicle Theft". Catalogue no. 85-563-XIE. Ottawa: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.

Notes

1. There are two versions of the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey: Aggregate and Incident-based. The Aggregate Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey reflects data reported by police services covering virtually 100% of the population of Canada. The Incident-based Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCR2) captures detailed information on individual criminal incidents reported to selected police services, including characteristics of incidents, victims and accused persons. In 2007, coverage of the UCR2 Survey incident counts represented approximately 94% of the population of Canada, while coverage for victims and accused persons counts represented approximately 90%. Incident-based UCR2 coverage was at least 97% in all provinces and territories except British Columbia (59%). For the purposes of this report, all analyses are based upon data from the Aggregate UCR Survey other than attempted and completed motor vehicle thefts, recovery status and location of the incident which are based upon data from the Incident-based UCR2 Survey.
2. Land-based motorized vehicles include cars, trucks, vans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), motorcycles, buses, construction or agricultural machinery, all-terrain vehicles or snowmobiles.
3. Information is based upon a non-representative sample of 127 police services who have consistently reported to the Incident-based Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR2) Survey since 2003. In 2007, these data represented 68% of the population of Canada.