Car thieves targeting residential neighborhoods: MPI

With this week marking “Auto Theft Awareness Week”, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is releasing a survey suggesting most car thefts occur in residential neighborhoods.The study, conducted in May, found 59% of those who had been victims of auto theft say their car was stolen from outside their own home or in a residential neighborhood. Another 38% say the theft happened in a public location, such as a parking lot or downtown street.The survey also found most people with steering wheel locking devices were only using them some of the time. This lends credence to the need for electronic vehicle immobilizers, which MPI supports and offers premium discounts on.MPI says auto theft cost its policyholders $28 million last year.Throughout this week, MPI is taking its auto theft message on the road across the province.