Canada has earned the unfortunate title of the “car theft capital of the world,” with more than 105,000 vehicles stolen last year, equating to one car theft every five minutes. This troubling trend has placed Canada among Interpol’s top ten countries for car thefts, following the country’s recent decision to share theft data with the international police force.
Thieves typically steal vehicles for use in crimes, domestic resale, or to sell overseas. Interpol reported that 1,500 cars have been smuggled out of Canada since February, with an additional 200 cars added to this list each week. The Insurance Bureau of Canada has labeled this issue a “national crisis,” noting a $1.5 billion impact on insurance claims in 2022.
Frustration among Canadians has led many to seek private security measures, as confidence in law enforcement wanes. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has been vocal in criticizing the current government’s handling of the situation. He argues that car thieves should face stricter penalties and not just house arrest “in their living room watching Netflix.”
Poilievre proposes increasing the mandatory minimum sentence for a third car theft offense from six months to three years and treating involvement in organized crime as an aggravating factor for harsher punishment. He emphasized his commitment to addressing this crisis at a Brampton news conference, promising to prioritize the safety of Canadians by ensuring “jail, not bail” for repeat offenders.
