Which Atlantic Canada cities are becoming car theft hot spots

Regions across Atlantic Canada are seeing alarming spikes in auto theft claims costs, leaving insurers on high alert. 

Notably, Moncton, N.B saw auto theft claims costs surge 270% between 2018 and 2023. Most recently, insurers tallied $3,328,444 in claims costs in the city, according to a news release by the Insurance Bureau of Canada. 

Fredericton, N.B. saw a 231% increase over the same period, totalling $2,459,466 in claims costs in 2023. 

“Auto thieves in New Brunswick are stealing vehicles, with the majority of recovered vehicles found after arson has been committed; a tactic thieves use to eliminate physical evidence from the crime,” Équité Association said in its 2023 Auto Theft Trend Report.  

Saint John, N.B. saw a 135% surge in the last five years, for a total of $976,438 in 2023. 

The Martimes’ most populous city, Halifax, is not exempt from this increase, either. The capital of Nova Scotia and its surrounding municipalities saw $3,607,129 in claims costs in 2023, which accounts for a 122% surge within the previous five years. 

Stolen vehicles in Halifax are typically destined for export out of the Port of Halifax, Équité Association reported.  

“While auto theft may seem like a problem that’s only affecting central Canada, auto theft claims and claims costs are spiking in Atlantic Canada,” said Amanda Dean, vice president of IBC’s Ontario and Atlantic regions.  

Though Dean says the auto theft crisis is most deeply impacting premiums in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta, “It’s a problem right across the country and one we can’t afford to ignore here in Atlantic Canada. 

“Without swift action to combat theft in Atlantic Canada, claims costs will increase which in turn will impact the cost of insurance,” she said in a release.  

In Atlantic Canada, the majority of thefts (43%) were of vehicles made between 2010 and 2016. Cars (sedans, coupes, hatchbacks and wagons) are the most stolen vehicle type (40%), Équité reported.  

The recovery rates in Atlantic Canada sit around 67%, which Equite suggests means stolen vehicles are typically being used to commit another crime.  

The remaining hotspots in Atlantic Canada for car theft increases are as follows:

• Cape Breton Municipality: 12%
• St John’s: 34%
• Charlottetown: 134%

Nationally, the cost of insurance claims for replacing stolen vehicles in Canada skyrocketed to a record-breaking $1.5 billion in 2023, up from about $1.2 billion in 2022, IBC reported earlier this month.

 

Feature image by iStock.com/shaunl