ICBC files civil action to recover claims costs

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) recently filed a statement of claim in BC Supreme court to take civil action with the intent to recover claims paid and investigation costs, plus damages, associated to an alleged motorcycle theft scheme.In 2003, ICBC investigators received information through its Tip Line the ICBC’s tool to combat fraud and vehicle-related crimes regarding motorcycle thefts in the Lower Mainland. In June of that year, police executed search warrants at M/Speed Performance, a Burnaby motorcycle parts store, and a warehouse in North Vancouver connected to M/Speed’s owner, Marbod Kern. The searches resulted in what is believed to be the largest recovery of stolen motorcycles and parts in BC.It is alleged that Kern and an accomplice were involved in the dismantling of stolen motorcycles with the intention of selling the parts for profit. Kern was also charged criminally and pleaded guilty to a possession of stolen property charge.The estimated value of recovered vehicles was over $250,000.”ICBC works with law enforcement agencies to combat auto crimes that impact our customers,” Mark Withenshaw, ICBC vice president of loss management, says. “We will not sit back and simply pass those costs onto our customers.”