ICBC launches suit against alleged theft ring

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) has filed a civil action against 20 individuals for their alleged involvement in a vehicle theft ring.
The case involves a total of seven vehicle claims from 2002 until 2003, says information from the ICBC.
The corporation is seeking to recover approximately $300,000, the cost paid out for the stolen vehicles, in addition to the cost to investigate the claims, legal fees and punitive damages.
The Vancouver Sun reported that approximately Cdn$2.7 million was claimed from ICBC in connection with the theft ring.
The scheme allegedly used by the ring involved stealing a vehicle and getting a legitimate Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for the same make and model, says an ICBC statement.
“It is alleged that the vehicles were then registered in B.C. using the forged registration documents to create a new identity for the vehicles,” explains information from the Crown corporation.
“The vehicles were then transferred one or more times to the various defendants named in the civil action.”
The vehicles, allegedly 49 in total, were then resold, and in the meantime a claim would be made to ICBC by the original owner for replacement costs, reported the Vancouver Sun.