Car theft is a growing problem in Canada, thankfully in Winnipeg, we have the Air1 helicopter that helps police to track down and find the stolen vehicle fast! A new report from the Canadian Insurance Bureau says that picky car thieves are increasingly targeting Ford trucks and high-end SUVs. At the same time, the total number of car thefts continues to grow throughout the country.
The Canadian insurance bureau reports in its annual list of the most frequently stolen cars that the Ford F-Series trucks again ranked first.
Henry Tso, vice president of the board of inquiry, says thieves in Ontario and Alberta prefer trucks, and in Atlantic Canada, Nissan Maxima, as well as Chevy Silverado and Jeep Liberty are most often stolen.
In New Brunswick, the sharpest increase in the number of thefts occurred - by 28%, while in Ontario a 15 percent increase was recorded. At the national level, the police reported nearly 85,000 thefts in 2017, six percent more than in 2016.
Insurers say that the New Year is the most popular time to hijack vehicles, as they often turn out to be loaded with gifts. The report states that cars are often smuggled out of the country, sold to unsuspecting consumers, scrapped for dismantling, or used to commit another crime involving organized criminal groups. The Canadian Criminal Intelligence Service reports that criminal car theft groups are based mainly in Montreal and Toronto.
Last Sunday, December 9th four people were arrested with the help of the Winnipeg Police Service’s AIR1 chopper. Police spotted a vehicle, reported stolen from an East. St. Paul residence on November 27th, driving erratically with no tail lights around Redwood Avenue and Salter Street on Sunday evening.
AIR1 tracked the vehicle through Winnipeg’s North End and told police when one person ran from the vehicle. That person was promptly taken into custody in the 100 block of Manitoba Avenue. Three other people were arrested and brought into custody after fleeing the vehicle a block later.
Fellow Winnipeggers, please be careful where you leave your vehicle, as the report shows almost no car theft occurred at Parkades and underground garages, as they are equipped with multiple security cameras and have gates, where you have to stop and pay to get out, also security guards at the premises discourage car thieves. So think twice before leaving your vehicle just on the street, try to avoid bad neighborhoods and keep an eye on your car keys.