The Combat Auto Theft (CAT) program is a highly effective option against auto theft, according to statistics released today by Manitoba Public Insurance.

Of 1,300 stolen recovered vehicles examined over the last two months at Manitoba Public Insurance facilities, only four vehicles had CAT stickers.

“From these statistics, it’s clear that the CAT sticker works to deter auto thieves,” said Marci Riel, Auto Crime Issue Specialist with Manitoba Public Insurance. “The CAT decal is another option for people to consider when protecting their vehicles against thieves.”

Convicted auto thieves have also said as much in a juvenile auto theft report recently released by Manitoba Public Insurance. Of 43 incarcerated youths interviewed for the study, more than half said they do not steal vehicles with a CAT sticker for fear of being pulled over by police.

Now in its 11th year, the CAT program is administered by Manitoba Public Insurance, in partnership with the RCMP, Winnipeg Police Service and other provincial police agencies.

“CAT is a simple and straightforward way of helping reduce the chances of your vehicle being stolen,” said Riel. “Motorists can simply pick up a CAT registration form from Autopac brokers, Manitoba Public Insurance Claims Centres or police stations.”

If police observe a vehicle displaying a CAT decal on the road between the hours of 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., it can be pulled over and checked.

To date, nearly 40,000 Manitobans have registered with the CAT program, said Riel.

The MPI juvenile auto theft study reported that the most effective deterrent to auto theft is a passive immobilizer, an after market system which disables several key vehicle systems – such as the ignition, starter and fuel systems -- if someone attempts to start it without the proper key.

Manitoba Public Insurance strongly encourages the use of immobilizers. Last year, as part of its continuing battle against auto theft, MPI began offering a discount for motorists who equip their vehicles with an aftermarket immobilizer device approved by the former Vehicle Information Centre of Canada (now part of the Insurance Bureau of Canada).