Auto Theft

When a car is stolen it generally is taken from someone whose life is lacking excitement, a connection with drugs and alcohol OR to get away from a previous crime committed (ie bank robbery) Those are generally the motivations of the offenders and are also some of the most desperate motivations. For example, if an offender has a connection with drugs or alcohol they may need a car to escape from cops or to transport the illegal goods. For a criminal whose life is lacking excitement, stealing a car provides the adrenaline rush they are searching for. Some methods used by criminals are theft with access to keys, theft without access to keys, oppurtunist theft and carjacking. The most dangerous of these methods is carjacking because it is the taking of a vehicle by force or threat of force from its owner or operator.

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada's statistics for 2007, the top five most stolen cars in Canada were:
1. Honda Civic
2. Subaru Impreza
3. Acura Integra
4. Dodge Grand Caravan
5. Plymouth Voyager

In Canada, the top city that has most car thefts is Winnepeg, Manitoba with 1932 cars stolen out of a 100 000 population. However, a car can be stolen from anywhere in Canada, from a shopping mall, a park, or even your own driveway.

Auto theft is a global problem, however Canada is one of the worst in the world because according to Statistics Canada a car is stolen every three minutes, averaging about 400 cars a day. Can you imagine? 400 cars a day stolen in Canada and most of the time nobody is aware, not citizens, workers or even the police. The only time we are even close to finding out cars have been stolen are car alarms, or the "Bait Cars" the police leave at busy shopping malls. The point of the "Bait Cars" is to lure criminals and as they drive away with the car, the engine stops, and the car doors lock,leaving the offender inside to wait for the police.

How can you protect your cars? (This is a list from ICBC)

Always roll up your windows all the way when leaving your vehicle and lock it up.
Put the key in your pocket or purse as soon as you lockup. Never leave keys in your vehicle or in the ignition. It only takes a moment for someone to jump in and drive away (20% of stolen cars have keys in them.)
Keep your vehicle registration and proof of insurance on you, in a wallet or purse at all times- never leave these documents in the glove box.
Never leave a parking lot claim stub in your car when parking at an airport or other large parking lot.
Do not leave valuable items such as laptops, sports equipment or packages in clear view. Keep them in your trunk or out of sight.
Make sure to park in a well lit, busy area.
Get your car parts marked. This could deter thieves, as they resell car parts and this would make your car a less attractive target.

However, there are many other ways to protect your car than these listed by ICBC, all it takes is one smart move to protect yourself from becoming a victim of crime.