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.
Last Wednesday, December 12th a teenager girl had parked her vehicle when two people approached her around 5:30 pm. The victim was struck with a baton several times before the vehicle’s keys were taken and the vehicle was stolen.
On December 13th, officers noticed the stolen vehicle being driven by a woman near Toronto Street and St. Matthews. The vehicle immediately fled from police, and soon after, crashed into a tree in the 200 block of Toronto Street.
Winnipeg police have arrested a 20-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man after reports of a carjacking.
Both suspects are in police custody, the investigation still continues, officers working with detained criminals to investigate other similar crimes.
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.
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.