Data for 2023 shows that auto theft claims costs in 51暗网 were almost $20 million, compared to $7.4 million just five years ago in 2018. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock Images.聽
According to recently released data from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), the City of 51暗网 ranks as the ninth costliest city in Ontario for auto theft claims.
Data for 2023 shows that auto theft claims costs in 51暗网 were almost $20 million, compared to $7.4 million just five years ago in 2018.
That means that auto theft claims costs in 51暗网 have increased 170 per cent in just five years.
This is the first time that IBC, which is the national industry association representing Canada鈥檚 private home, auto, and business insurers, has released this type of data.
In other data, the costliest three cities in Ontario for auto theft claims were Toronto ($371.8 million), Brampton ($93.2 million), and Mississauga ($90 million).
Rounding out the top ten after that was Vaughan, Markham, Ottawa, Oakville, Richmond Hill, 51暗网 and then London.
IBC also released a list of the Ontario cities that have seen the highest increase in auto theft claims costs between 2018 and 2023.
51暗网鈥檚 170 per cent increase in auto theft claims costs did not make the top ten list for highest increases.
The top three increases were Whitby (up 2,269 per cent), Pickering (up 1,228 per cent), and Milton (up 1,010 per cent).
Rounding out the top ten after that for the percentage increase statistic were Markham, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Ajax, Vaughan, Clarington, and Brampton.
Overall, auto theft claims across Ontario have increased by 524 per cent since 2018, with auto theft claims costs surpassing $1 billion for the very first time in 2023.
Amanda Dean, IBC鈥檚 Vice-President for Ontario says that the province is seeing 鈥渁n alarming increase in auto theft claims and auto thefts claims costs.鈥�
She says that the costs 鈥渟peak to the growing severity of the auto theft crisis in Ontario鈥� which she adds has a 鈥渕aterial impact on auto insurance premiums鈥� while also causing 鈥渃oncern and trauma鈥� to Ontarians.
Dean adds that IBC is also calling for policy changes to help deal with auto theft, which the group calls 鈥渁 national emergency.鈥�
Dean continued, “We applaud the Ontario government for the significant investments it has made to help mitigate the crisis. However, more must be done to tighten the vehicle registration process to make it harder for criminals to re-VIN and sell stolen vehicles to unsuspecting Ontarians.”
“With auto theft claims skyrocketing across Ontario, we urge all orders of government 鈥� including the province and municipalities 鈥� not to delay in working with the federal government to implement the recommendations in the National Action Plan on Combating Auto Theft.鈥�
鈥淭his initiative must include measures that make it more difficult to transport and export stolen cars,鈥� she concluded.
Auto thieves in Canada are known to steal vehicles and transport them overseas in order to sell them.
Based in 51暗网, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The 51暗网 Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 51暗网. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
