Canadian motor vehicle theft on the decline, Statistics Canada reports

Police-reported motor vehicle theft decreased 9% in 2007, the fourth consecutive annual decline, Statistics Canada noted in a recent report.
Vehicle theft remains one of the most frequent offences committed in Canada, according to police-reported data. But the rate peaked in 1996, and has been generally dropping since.
“According to police and insurance companies, reasons for this decline include the increased use of electronic immobilizers in newer vehicles, as well as auto theft prevention programs that target youth,” Statistics Canada says in a report posted online.
Police reported more than 146,000 motor vehicle thefts in 2007, an average of about 400 per day. About four in 10 of hose stolen vehicles les had not been recovered by police.
“About half of the vehicles stolen were cars and one-third were trucks, vans or sport utility vehicles,” Statistics Canada notes. “About two-thirds of all stolen vehicles were taken from public areas such as parking lots and streets, and one-third from private residences.”
The report further observes that motor vehicle theft is one of the least likely crimes to be solved by police. “In 2007, 11% of thefts resulted in an accused person being identified by police,” the report notes. “In contrast, 22% of all other property-related offences were solved.”
About 16,000 people were accused of vehicle theft in 2007. Teenagers aged 15 to 18, who figured in three out of every 10 solved vehicle thefts, had the highest vehicle theft rate of any age group.
“Among major metropolitan areas, the highest rates of vehicle theft were in Western Canada,” the report notes. “Winnipeg reported the highest, followed by Abbotsford, Edmonton, Regina, Calgary, Vancouver and Saskatoon.
“Winnipeg’s rate of vehicle theft in 2007 was 25% higher than a decade ago, despite declines in two of the previous three years. Edmonton and St. John’s reported increases of over 50% over the past 10 years, although the rate in St. John’s remained among the lowest in the country.”