Lock It or Lose It

AUTO THEFT HAS CONTINUED to rise at a troubling pace over the past few years. In Ontario there was an increase of 48.2 percent between 2021 and 2023. With 105,673 cars stolen in 2022, that’s about one every five minutes, according to Équité Association, a not-for-profit national authority on insurance crime and fraud prevention representing the property and casualty insurance industry. Équite also reports that 84 percent of Canadians are responding to this increase in auto theft, concerned about escalating crime in their own communities. Whether it’s getting the kids to school, getting to work, planning a road trip or just taking care of daily errands, we rely on our cars. Losing your vehicle to theft is not only time-consuming and disruptive, it also means significant expense — from paying a deductible to increased insurance rates to purchasing a replacement vehicle. The current cost of insurance claims due to vehicle theft in Canada is reportedly over $1.5 billion. While modern technology has made our vehicles more comfortable and convenient — think back-up cameras, parking assist and on-board navigation systems — it has also created an increased risk for theft. Keyless entry and keyless ignitions rely on computers and radio signals. Car thieves have become sophisticated at capturing these signals. In order to steal your vehicle, they need just its signal; no need to steal your car fob. Technology is making many modern cars vulnerable to being hacked. But there’s good news. A layered approach can help deter thieves. Consider these smart recommendations from CAA Insurance.

• Secure your parked vehicle with a wheel lock, brake pedal lock or steering wheel lock (e.g., The Club).
• Secure your car key fob by storing it in a Faraday box or pouch to prevent signal hacking.
• Consider a professionally installed after-market immobilizer — an electronic device that prevents a car from starting without the correct key or transponder. Certain immobilizers make it almost impossible to steal your car.
• Lock your doors (your car’s and your home’s) and park your vehicle in your garage, if you have one.
• Enable or install multi-factor authentication capabilities in your vehicle.
• If you own multiple vehicles, park the less valuable one closer to the street.
• Install motion sensors and a camera on your driveway to capture any activity.
• Cover the vehicle identification number (VIN), so it’s not visible on the dashboard.
• Hide a GPS tracker (e.g., AirTag) in your vehicle, which will allow you to track it should it be stolen.
• Conceal valuables in your vehicle and ensure that anything you do leave in it is stored out of sight.
• Always avoid leaving your vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
• Report any suspicious activity to police and avoid confrontation with thieves.