Illustration by Sam Island

A vehicle is stolen every five minutes in Canada, according to a 2024 report commissioned by anti-fraud group ÉquitéAssociation. Often, organized crime is behind the thefts—a billion-dollars-a-year problem in the country. “One of our company’s keyfocuses for 2024 is to educate consumers about ways to protect themselves againstauto theft,” says Elliott Silverstein, director of government relations at CAA Insurance. “Insurance companies, governments and auto manufacturers each need to do their part to get control over this, so that Canadians don’t pay the cost of auto theft in the form of higher insurance rates.”

To outsmart thieves, CAA Insurance suggests the following:

• Secure your parked vehicle with a steering-wheel lock, brake pedal lock or wheellock (also known as a tire lock).
• Use a Faraday box/pouch to store key fobs.
• Lock your doors—even while driving.
• Ensure that items are out of sight and never leave valuables in your vehicle.
• Park inside a garage if possible.
• If you have multiple vehicles, park the one of lesser value closer to the road.
• Install motion-activated lights and/or a camera pointed at your driveway.
• Stash a GPS tracking tag in your vehicle, so authorities can track it. Or use twotags—place one where a thief could find it and the second in a well-hidden spotto outsmart a thief who thinks they’ve found the tracker.
• Share any suspicious activity with law enforcement.
• Consider a professionally installed after-market immobilizer, which prevents yourvehicle’s engine from running unless the proper key or key fob is used.

Auto Insurance is underwritten by CAA Insurance Company.®/™CAA trademarks are owned by, and use is authorized by, the Canadian AutomobileAssociation. Certain conditions, limitations and underwriting guidelines apply.