[Auto] 40% rise in vehicle theft claims registered by insurers in the Atlantic provinces in 2021
Good to know
- Almost 1,100 vehicle theft claims were registered in 2021 by insurance companies in the 4 Atlantic provinces
- This is 40.6% more than in 2020, during which around 760 vehicle theft claims were registered by insurance companies in the Atlantic
- In the 4 Atlantic provinces, sedans have been the most stolen type of vehicle, representing 40.8% of all the theft claims in 2021
- With a ratio of 4.5 vehicle thefts per 10,000 inhabitants in 2021, the Atlantic provinces remain the least negatively affected area in Canada in 2021, in comparison with Quebec (8.6), Ontario (9.8), and Alberta (11.9)
- In 2021, the Chevrolet Cruze (2011-2015 models) has been the most stolen car model in the Atlantic provinces.
With Quebec, the Atlantic is the area in Canada where vehicle thefts increased the most in 2021
In the 4 Atlantic provinces, the number of vehicle theft claims increased by 40.6% in one year, from around 750 in 2020 to close to 1,100 in 2021*. When looking at the 2021 vehicle thefts ratio of the provinces that have a private car insurance system, we find out that :
- The Atlantic provinces are one of the areas where vehicles increased the most in 2021 in Canada: more than in Ontario (+28.4%) and Alberta (-11.2%), but still less than Quebec (+45.8%)
- However, with a ratio of 4.5 vehicles stolen per 10,000 inhabitants, the Atlantic provinces remain the place in Canada where that index is the lowest.
Source: Équité Association
Good to know
*Those numbers sere provided to us by Équité Association. The organization asked us not to disclose the exact numbers, which is why we do not unveil them. Regional listings are only available if the minimum data collection threshold is reached. The Atlantic provinces were therefore merged.
In the Atlantic provinces, 40.8% of stolen vehicles in 2021 were sedans
What are the type of vehicles most targeted by thieves in the Atlantic? We can see on the below graph that :
- In 2021, sedans are more than ever the most stolen type of vehicle in the Atlantic provinces, representing 40.8% of thefts in the province (+ 4.6 points in comparison with 2020)
- SUVs are also more and more targeted by criminal networks, representing 31.6% of all the vehicles stolen in the Atlantic provinces in 2021 (+2.7 point in comparison with 2020)
- Conversely, the number of pick-ups stolen in the Atlantic has declined: this type of vehicle represented 32.9% of all vehicle thefts in 2020, and 'only' 24.9% in 2021 (-8 points).
Source: Équité Association
The Chevrolet Cruze (2011-2015) has been the most stolen vehicle in the Atlantic provinces in 2021
Chevrolet Cruze owners living in the Atlantic should beware: numbers disclosed by Équité Association show that in 2021, it has been the most stolen model of vehicle (with a theft ratio at 0.17%), in front of the Ram 1500 série (2009-2018 models) (0.14% of thefts) and the Chrysler/Dodge Town & Country (2008-2014 models) (0.14% of thefts also).
Source: Équité Association
Expert advice
Bryan Gast, VP Investigative Services of Équité Association
“Auto theft is a complex national problem that costs Canadians millions of dollars each year,” says Bryan Gast, VP, Investigative Services of Équité Association, a not-for-profit organization supporting Canadian property and casualty insurers in the fight against insurance fraud. “Canada has become a source nation for the theft and exportation of high-value vehicles. Vehicles across the country are being stolen in greater volume for export internationally by organized crime networks. The proceeds of this illegal activity are being used to fund organized crime and terrorism, both domestically and internationally,” says Gast. “Thieves continue to exploit technology to steal vehicles through relay attacks and reprograming”.
Methodology
In addition to its expert editorial line around insurance and financial products, HelloSafe explores broader topics relating to global consumption in Canada and around the world. The aim is to decipher certain complex subjects for consumers and to provide everyone with the latest information. It is within this framework that HelloSafe regularly carries out studies on trends relating to current personal finance in Canada.
There are various statistics available on vehicle thefts in the Atlantic provinces, mainly from insurance companies or public authorities (police in particular). The differences between these two sources can be significant. This study is based on figures provided to us by Équité Association, a not-for-profit organization supporting Canadian property and casualty insurers in the fight against insurance fraud. Thus, the figures used are based on thefts that have been declared to insurance companies, which explains why the numbers presented may be lower than those disclosed by the police.
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HelloSafe is a leading platform for comparing financial products (insurance, credit, investments) in Canada. Powered by its unique and powerful technology, HelloSafe provides users with dozens of free and anonymous comparison tools, calculators and expert, up-to-date content. Its platform empowers users to make the best decisions for their wallets and find the right products at the right prices for them.
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