Latest news with #BryanGast
a day ago
- Automotive
Cases of auto theft down across Canada in first half of 2025, report shows
A new report has found auto theft trends are down 19 per cent across Canada in the first half of this year, compared to the same time period in 2024. But the authors of the report say that vigilance is still needed to keep numbers coming down. It's an optimistic trend seen in provinces across the country, says the report by Équité Association, an organization that works to stop crime on behalf of the Canadian property and casualty insurance industry. The largest drops were seen in Ontario at 25.9 per cent and Quebec at 22 per cent, said the report. These provinces experienced the highest rate of theft from 2021 to 2023, when Équité said Canada was facing a national crisis in car theft. This encouraging trend in decreasing auto theft in the most affected provinces demonstrates the success of collective investments, policies and awareness campaigns, the report says. While the drop in auto theft is encouraging, Bryan Gast, vice president of investigative services at Équité Association, said it's still important for vehicle owners to stay alert and for different levels of government to continue collaborations against auto theft. This is not a victimless crime. It's not just a property crime. The proceeds of these stolen vehicles are funding organized crime and it is affecting the communities in which we live, he said. The report also found that the national rate of recovery for stolen vehicles increased to 56 per cent in the first half of this year, up from 53 per cent for the same time period in 2024. Enlarge image (new window) Created with Datawrapper Photo: CBC See interactive chart here (new window) Gast says auto theft in Canada began to spike during the COVID-19 pandemic when a supply chain issue with cars gave organized crime an opportunity to make money. The majority of the cars that are stolen are personal passenger vehicles, such as pickup trucks, sedans and SUVs, he says. He credits the drop in theft and the increase in recoveries to collaboration across different levels of government and with agencies in other provinces. That work included the creation of Ontario's auto theft team to identify crime hotspots, provincial Ministries of Transportation working to close gaps in vehicle registration processes and over $200 million in federal funding, said the report. I've never seen this collaboration, even in my 30 years of policing, work together. This is very large scale [with] multiple police services, Gast said. Phenomenal results and I think it's really showing. He also said there's been an increased emphasis to crack down on international organized crime related to auto theft in Canada. Information on any car that is stolen in Canada is sent to the Canadian Police Information Centre, which then shares that information with Interpol, Gast said. What used to go under the radar once it goes international, now it shows it's stolen. And it affects the criminal's supply and demand, he said. WATCH | A 2024 report looks at what cars are targetted by auto theft criminals: Data shows drops in auto theft across the GTA Stephanie Sayer with Toronto Police Services says the city has seen a 34 per cent drop in auto theft cases so far this year, compared to the same period in 2024. That's the result of sustained, focused efforts both within our Service and in collaboration with our policing partners across the GTA, she said. A news release from the York Regional Police said that as of June 25, they've also seen a 37 per cent decline in auto thefts so far this year compared to the same period last year. Gast says it's important for officials and car owners to be aware of the new technologies criminals could use to steal a car. He recommends people with cars always report suspicious activity, park in a garage space if possible and to always keep windows and doors locked. Drivers can also use a steering wheel lock, a pedal lock, a tracking device or an aftermarket immobilizer to protect from reprogramming attacks, Gast said. You don't have to do them all. You don't have to build your vehicle into Fort Knox. But if you could do a few layers, just to make it add more time for the criminal to steal your vehicle, he said. Arrthy Thayaparan (new window) · CBC News Arrthy Thayaparan is a Toronto-based multimedia journalist. She's interested in health, climate and community stories. She has previously worked at Reuters and CBC Vancouver. You can contact her at
Global News
a day ago
- Automotive
- Global News
Auto theft in Canada fell 19% in 1st half of 2025, industry group says
Canadians saw fewer auto thefts in the first half of this year compared to a year ago, according to a new report by Équité Association. The industry group, which focuses on insurance crime and fraud prevention, reported 23,094 private passenger vehicles stolen in the first six months of this year — a drop of 19 per cent compared to 2024. 'Canada is a safer place today than it was at the height of the auto theft crisis,' said Terri O'Brien, Équité's president and CEO. The report goes on to commend action by governments of all levels, law enforcement and the insurance industry, saying it helped to contribute to the decrease. The biggest drop in auto theft was found in Ontario and Quebec, the report shows, with a 25.9 per cent and 22.2 per cent drop, respectively. Story continues below advertisement Those two provinces saw some of the highest rates between 2021 and 2023, Équité notes. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Some provinces saw a smaller drop, however, with Atlantic Canada seeing a nine per cent drop and Western Canada experiencing a 9.4 per cent decrease. The report did specify that Alberta's auto theft decreased by 12.5 per cent. 2:00 Province cracks down on auto theft with new legislation Équité's numbers are in line with a recent report from Statistics Canada last week, which saw a 17 per cent drop in the rate of motor vehicle theft since 2023. That drop followed a three-year rise in police-reported car thefts. Last year, the federal government convened a national summit on fighting auto theft and published a plan to curb the problem, including giving the Canada Border Services Agency $28 million to tackle the rising rates. Story continues below advertisement 'Canadians have endured the significant impacts of vehicle crime, and while these first half of 2025 numbers are encouraging, the fight is far from over,' said Bryan Gast, Équité's national vice-president, investigative services. The national recovery rate for the first half of the year was 56.5 per cent, up from 53.1 per cent last year. But nationally, 44 per cent of vehicles stolen in 2025 remain uncovered. The report points out, as Gast notes, those involved in auto thefts 'continue to evolve their tactics,' including stealing vehicles bound for 'chop shops' or using re-VINs. A re-VIN occurs when the original vehicle identification number (VIN) is replaced with a new, fraudulent number that can help in the illegal resale or export, according to Équité. Équité also suggests the uncertainty created by continued automotive and steel tariffs currently imposed by the U.S. could result in the automotive market for used and after-market parts becoming more lucrative for criminals.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Auto thefts drop more than 25 per cent in Ontario, says new insurance industry report
Vehicle theft in Ontario has dropped 25.9 per cent compared to a year ago as drivers learn to safeguard their vehicles and authorities work more closely together, the Équité́ Association insurance industry group says. That's even better than the 19.1 per cent national drop from a year ago, a newly released report from the group says. 'Canada is a safer place today than it was at the height of the auto theft crisis,' says Terri O'Brien, President and Chief Executive Officer of Équité́ Association, a private group funded by insurance agencies. The report notes Quebec has seen a 22.2 per cent decrease in auto theft over the past year. 'Canadians have endured the significant impacts of vehicle crime, and while these first half of 2025 numbers are encouraging, the fight is far from over,' Bryan Gast of the group's Investigative Services department said. The drop in thefts across Canada is a dramatic turnaround from 2023, when Équité́ labelled auto theft a national crisis and advocated for greater information sharing between numerous federal and provincial government ministries, law enforcement, insurers and industry stakeholders. 'The trend is continuing downward after the peak of the crisis,' Gast said. Équité́ has pushed for drivers to take measures like employing tracking devices and steering wheel locks on their vehicles, and parking in well lit areas or in driveways. The report notes that criminals have also adapted. Thieves now focus more on stealing vehicles destined for chop shops, where they are sometimes reconfigured and outfitted with new Vehicle Identification Numbers, hindering recovery efforts. The Équité́ report says that 44 per cent of vehicles stolen so far this year remain unrecovered as criminals move toward selling vehicles to chop shops. 'As automotive and steel tariffs continue to create uncertainty, the market for used and aftermarket parts may become more lucrative,' the Équité́ report says. 'The national auto theft decrease (-19.1%) reflects the successes of Équité́'s partnerships with law enforcement, RCMP, CBSA and INTERPOL, as well as the leadership and investments from PSC and provincial governments across Canada,' the report says. 'Evolving tactics to identify new funding sources in vehicle crime are emerging, according to Équité́ investigators,' the report states. 'The prevalence of chop shops continues; however domestic chop shops are now expanding and shipping parts to international markets.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
a day ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Auto theft sees sharp drop in first half of 2025, industry association says
Équité Association reports auto thefts are down 19.1 per cent year over year in the first half of 2025. Shipping containers are moved in the Port of Montreal, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi OTTAWA — The pace of auto theft is dropping in Canada thanks to collective efforts to crack down on thieves, says an industry group focused on insurance fraud and crime. Équité Association said in a report released Monday that the number of vehicles reported stolen nationally dropped 19.1 per cent in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Just over 23,000 vehicles were reported stolen in the first six months of the year in Canada, the report said. The decline is particularly stark in Ontario and Quebec, which saw annual drops of 25.9 per cent and 22.2 per cent, respectively. The year-over-year drops are more modest in Atlantic Canada and Western Canada at roughly nine per cent. Alberta saw a decline of 12.5 per cent. Bryan Gast, national vice-president of investigative services at Équité Association, credits greater public awareness of the threat and efforts by various levels of government and law enforcement agencies to collectively tackle the problem. 'It's really definitely a collaborative effort,' he said. Gast said law enforcement agencies in Ontario and Quebec in particular have stepped up enforcement with police units dedicated to vehicle theft. So far this year, residents of Ontario and Quebec have reported 9,600 and 3,889 vehicle thefts respectively — high numbers that Gast attributed to the provinces' larger populations and proximity to the Port of Montreal. With 4,411 vehicles reported stolen over the first half of 2025, Gast said Alberta continues to lead the country in auto theft on a per-capita basis. Statistics Canada data released earlier this week confirms national progress on the file. The agency reported a 17 per cent annual drop in the rate of police-reported motor vehicle thefts, down to 239 incidents per 100,000 people last year. In 2023, the number of auto thefts had increased 40 per cent over the historic low recorded in 2020, StatCan said. That trend came to a head last year when the federal government convened a summit in February to address car thefts. Ottawa followed up by giving the Canada Border Services Agency millions of dollars in new funding to track vehicles leaving through the country's ports, after having given Ontario $121 million in January of that year to tackle gang crime and auto thefts. Gast said some of the progress can likely be attributed to Canadians' heightened awareness of the issue. 'Now I think you can talk to anybody and, if their car hasn't been stolen, they know somebody's car that has been stolen,' he said. 'I think they are taking those precautions and some of those steps to make their vehicle less of a target.' Vehicle recovery rates also rose 3.4 percentage points year over year to 56.5 per cent in the first half of 2025, Équité Association said. The organization said that was nearing the 'pre-crisis' level of 57.2 per cent recorded in 2021. Despite progress on vehicle theft, the Insurance Bureau of Canada warned it's still a 'significant concern' and 'far from the only factor contributing to rising auto insurance costs.' 'A combination of inflation, tariffs, rising repair and vehicle replacement costs, legal pressures, and regulatory challenges are driving rates up across the country,' the bureau said in a media statement. Tariffs on vehicle parts are driving up the costs of repairs and replacement cars, the bureau noted. Gast said that while it's not clear yet, tariffs might be playing a role in the increase Équité Association is seeing in domestic chop shops and vehicle parts being sent overseas. He said that whenever there's a disruption to supply chains — like the one that made semiconductor inputs a hot commodity during the COVID-19 pandemic — the criminal element tends to adapt to meet that demand. While he's encouraged by the progress Canada has posted to date in tamping down auto theft, he said now is not the time to let up. 'Don't consider the problem solved,' he said. 'To keep it manageable and the numbers trending in the right direction, I think we still need to focus on it.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2025. Craig Lord, The Canadian Press
Cision Canada
a day ago
- Automotive
- Cision Canada
Équité Association Releases First Half 2025 Auto Theft Trend Report: National Decline Signals Progress, Continued Vigilance Crucial as Criminal Tactics Evolve Français
TORONTO, July 28, 2025 /CNW/ - Équité Association, the national authority on insurance crime and fraud prevention, today released its First Half of 2025 Auto Theft Trend Report, revealing a 19.1% national decrease in the theft of private passenger vehicles, compared to the same period in 2024. "Canada is a safer place today than it was at the height of the auto theft crisis," says Terri O'Brien, President and Chief Executive Officer of Équité Association. "Auto theft returning to pre-crisis levels demonstrates the effectiveness of Équité's unified voice on behalf of our members. Led by Public Safety Canada, with solution-focused recommendations from Équité, the National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft has been instrumental in implementing comprehensive strategies to protect Canadians from the organized crime behind the auto theft crisis. Minimizing the impact of auto theft on honest, hardworking Canadians was a key goal of the insurance industry, and the report data shows we are making meaningful progress towards that goal." The report notes significant decreases in Ontario (-25.9%) and Quebec (-22.2%), provinces that previously experienced the highest auto theft rates from 2021-2023. * Compared to the same period of 2024 "Canadians have endured the significant impacts of vehicle crime, and while these first half of 2025 numbers are encouraging, the fight is far from over," says Bryan Gast, National Vice President, Investigative Services. "Équité recently participated on the UL Standards & Engagement Advisory Committee to collaboratively shape and publish the first harmonized Canada-US Standard for Vehicle Theft Deterrent Equipment and Systems. The next step is to put this new standard into action to prevent vehicles from being stolen in the first place and reduce auto theft on both sides of the border." The report also highlights concerns about evolving criminal strategies. Équité investigators have observed a shift towards criminals stealing vehicles destined for chop shops and re-VINs, hindering recovery efforts. Équité remains committed to enhancing its investigative expertise and technology to make a meaningful impact on combatting insurance crime and protecting honest, hardworking Canadians. About Équité Association As the national authority on insurance crime and fraud prevention, Équité Association is a not-for-profit organization supporting Canadian property and casualty (P&C) insurers. Équité combats the insurance crime problem that takes advantage of vulnerable Canadians by deploying advanced analytics, intelligence best practices, and coordinated investigations. Delivering improved service and fraud analytics for vehicle, property, and cargo recovery to its members, Équité collaborates with law enforcement, partners and industry organizations to protect Canadians against exploitation.
