The Atlantic Canada region has seen a concerning rise in auto theft, according to newly released data from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).
In the first half of 2024, the region recorded a 13% jump in auto theft claims – the highest increase nationwide. Over the past decade, claims related to stolen vehicles in Atlantic Canada have surged by 116%.
In addition to the rise in volume, the costs associated with these claims are escalating. In the first half of this year, claim costs climbed by 11.8% compared to the same period in 2023. The long-term trend is even more troubling, with auto theft claims costs in the region skyrocketing by 265% over the last decade.
“Opportunistic car thieves are increasingly shifting their focus to Atlantic Canada and away from provinces such as Ontario and Quebec, which have invested significantly in combating auto theft,” said Amanda Dean (pictured), IBC vice president for Ontario and Atlantic.
“The growth in auto theft in Atlantic Canada is putting pressure on auto premiums and compromising the safety and security of residents.”
Among the Atlantic provinces, Nova Scotia experienced the sharpest increase, with auto theft claims rising by 26.6% when comparing the first half of 2024 to the same period in 2023. New Brunswick saw a 14.4% rise, while Prince Edward Island registered a 10.5% uptick.
On the other hand, Newfoundland and Labrador witnessed a 26% drop in theft claims, although the costs of these claims remained on par with the previous year.
With Atlantic Canada now emerging as one of the hardest-hit regions for auto theft, IBC has urged governments at all levels to act quickly by implementing the recommendations in the federal government’s National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft, unveiled in May 2024.
Dean warned: “Atlantic Canada is in the midst of an auto theft crisis and without action it will only get worse. We need provincial governments to work swiftly with the federal government to implement the recommendations in the national action plan.
“Specifically, we need investments in Atlantic ports to make it more difficult to export stolen vehicles. We also need the Atlantic provinces to provide more resources for inter-agency law enforcement focused on auto theft.”
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