In Ontario, through the Office of the Solicitor General, the province has committed funding over three years to establish community safety grants and create response teams to help dismantle the primary source of vehicle theft—organized crime. The provincial government also explored ways to work in partnership with the federal government and numerous sectors to address the challenges.

“The Government of Ontario recognizes that car thieves are serious criminals who cannot be allowed to victimize Ontarians,” says Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario, “which is why we are investing more than $100 million in new measures to help police identify and help battle organized crime networks and put thieves behind bars.”

This includes $18 million invested in the Preventing Auto Thefts (PAT) grant that is funding 21 projects across the province for new and enhanced crime-fighting measures and $49 million for four helicopters to help GTA police services track these criminals.

At the federal level, earlier this year, the government held a National Summit on Combatting Auto Theft. This one-day meeting included law enforcement, the auto sector, insurers and representatives from every level of government discussing immediate and long-term solutions. CAA was the only consumer-focused organization invited to speak at the event and represent the interests and perspectives of drivers across the country.

The call to manufacturers

When people are talking about auto theft, one of the most frequent questions is: What are the auto manufacturers doing to protect Canadians? This was discussed at length at the federal summit and continues to be a common pain point for drivers. In a recent CAA Insurance survey, 86 percent of respondents believe that carmakers should be developing and offering solutions to prevent vehicles from being stolen.

That’s why CAA, along with other organizations, has been calling for updated federal standards. Doing so would be an important first step to ensure that new cars are equipped with features that would make it harder for thieves to gain access to your car in the first place.

Working together

Canada isn’t unique in experiencing a rise in coordinated vehicle theft. While the process can be complex, there are steps that can be taken, both immediately and over time, to help protect drivers and lessen the risk of cars being stolen.

For Canadians to see timely and meaningful change, the sectors involved need to commit to work together, so vehicle theft levels begin to decline. That includes drivers becoming more vigilant and adopting anti-theft devices and practices.

Technology

Just as cars have evolved from key to keyless ignition, safety measures need to advance. In a world of two-factor authentication, consumers are used to completing a second stage to access information and systems. Canada’s banking system is a perfect example of where the evolution of security was seamless and did not negatively impact consumers.

Canadians should expect updated and modernized vehicle-safety regulations, giving drivers peace of mind around the security of their car. Simply put, the status quo is not sustainable. While there are many tools on the market to help keep our vehicles secure, collaboration is a powerful and necessary deterrent against auto theft.