In October 2022, Logan LaFreniere woke up to find his brand new Ram Rebel truck missing from his driveway in Milton, Ontario. Security footage revealed two hooded men effortlessly stealing the vehicle in the middle of the night. Months later, the truck surfaced on a Ghanaian website, with distinctive features confirming it as LaFreniere’s.
This incident is part of a broader issue. In 2022 alone, over 105,000 vehicles were stolen in Canada, averaging one every five minutes. Not even high-profile figures like Canada’s federal justice minister were spared, as his government-issued Toyota Highlander XLE was stolen twice.
Canada has now been listed among the top 10 worst countries for car thefts by Interpol, despite only recently integrating their data. Stolen vehicles are either used in other crimes, sold domestically, or shipped overseas. Interpol has identified over 1,500 stolen Canadian vehicles globally since February, with 200 more detected weekly.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada has labeled car theft a “national crisis,” with insurers paying out over C$1.5 billion in claims last year. In response, police have issued public warnings and Canadians have taken drastic measures, from installing trackers to hiring private security. Retractable bollards, like those used at embassies, have even become a common sight in driveways.
Nauman Khan from Mississauga started a bollard-installation business after thieves attempted to steal his Mercedes GLE. He now hears similar stories from clients, highlighting the widespread fear and frustration.
Canada’s car theft rate (262.5 per 100,000 people) surpasses that of England and Wales (220 per 100,000) and is close to the US rate (300 per 100,000). The pandemic-driven car shortage and high demand for certain models have fueled this crime wave, with organized crime groups heavily involved.
Elliott Silverstein of the Canadian Automobile Association points out vulnerabilities in Canada’s port system, where outbound shipments receive less scrutiny. Recoveries, such as Toronto Police’s 11-month operation retrieving 1,080 vehicles, are rare and challenging.
Mayor Patrick Brown of Brampton criticized Canada’s outdated inspection technology compared to US practices. The Canadian government has pledged to enhance the Canada Border Services Agency’s capabilities and provide additional funds to police.
Silverstein believes auto manufacturers must also take responsibility for making vehicles harder to steal. Meanwhile, car owners like LaFreniere, who replaced his stolen truck with a Toyota Tundra and added numerous security features, continue to struggle. Despite these measures, thieves still attempted to steal his Tundra, leaving him disheartened and questioning the effectiveness of existing protections.