March 19, 2009

Winnipeg hits positive auto theft milestone

For the first time in decades, Winnipeg has reached a long-awaited milestone – zero auto thefts reported over a 24-hour period.

Winnipeg’s theft-free day was Tuesday, March 3, said Manitoba Public Insurance CEO/President Marilyn McLaren, who noted auto theft statistics are unable to confirm the last time this occurrence took place.

It’s the latest achievement in Manitoba’s offensive against anti-theft, which has resulted in a 62 per cent decline in the theft rate over the last two years. Last year, auto theft claims were at a 17-year low.

“Winnipeg’s theft-free day is a signpost of this achievement, and one that is likely to be envied by all other major North American cities,” said McLaren, “For too many years Winnipeg was known as the auto theft capital of Canada. That’s a title soon to be relinquished.”
 
Manitoba’s theft numbers peaked in 2006 when 16,986 vehicles were stolen or attempted to be stolen. In 2008, 4,465 vehicles were reported stolen in Manitoba, including 3,173 from Winnipeg. These are the lowest provincial theft numbers since 1992 when 2,411 vehicles were reported stolen.

In 2007, total theft claims in Manitoba declined by 33 per cent compared to the previous year. Thefts then dropped by 43 per cent in 2008 compared to 2007.

The zero-theft milestone is confirmation that Manitoba’s immobilizer program and the Winnipeg Auto Theft Suppression Strategy are working, said McLaren.

“Theft rates decrease as the number of protected Most-at-Risk vehicles increases,” said McLaren. “By the end of 2008, almost 80 per cent of the Most at Risk vehicles in Winnipeg (87,776) were protected.”

By the end of fiscal year 2009, it’s expected 98 per cent of all Most at Risk vehicles will be protected, said McLaren.    

On Sept. 1, 2007, the immobilizer regulation was expanded, making Manitoba the first province in Canada to require the use of electronic immobilizers in vehicles determined to be at high risk of theft as a condition of a new registration or renewal. This expansion of the provincial regulation coincided with the new federal requirement to install immobilizers in all new cars, vans, light trucks and sport utility vehicles built after Sept. 1, 2007 for sale in Canada.

“This zero theft day is sure to be the first of many,” said McLaren.

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