Auto theft down in Manitoba, study suggests

For the first time in five years, auto thefts rates have dropped in Manitoba, says the province’s public insurer. According to Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), 2002 says 7.827 theft claims filed, 6,190 of which were in Winnipeg.MPI speculates that the drop could be the result of 2002 being the first year of operations for the province’s Auto Theft Task Force, formed by Attorney General Gord Mackintosh. The task force is attempting to create greater awareness of auto theft issues, to streamline information sharing between agencies and to put in place tougher enforcement and punishment measure for auto theft. Its members include representatives of MPI, government, law enforcement and community groups.”We [the task force] have invested considerable time in engaging all the partners and putting into place actions that we believe will yield longer-term, sustainable benefits,” says task force chair Rick Linden, a professor of criminology at University of Manitoba.Mackintosh says he is even pleased with the results in Winnipeg where, despite the high theft rate, 2002 numbers are 12.3% less than 2001. Following the task force’s mandate, he says, “the government has responded by passing tough new legislation, expanding youth programs and increasing resources to ensure auto theft is treated as a serious crime.”In Winnipeg, the number of theft-related arrests has risen 23%, and the number of charges laid are up 37%. The majority of offenses have resulted in the arrest of youths. “We are focusing more on repeat offenders and making sure they’re abiding by court-imposed curfews,” notes Sgt. Randy Harris of Winnipeg’s Stolen Auto Unit.In 2001, auto theft losses tallied about $24 million in Manitoba.