Recent reports have unveiled a concerning surge in vehicle thefts across Canada, with Montreal-area resident Zachary Siciliani becoming the latest victim of this disturbing trend. The Insurance Bureau of Canada has labeled it a “national crisis,” pointing to a growing number of stolen vehicles being shipped overseas through the bustling Port of Montreal for resale.
Siciliani’s experience underscores the stealthy nature of these thefts, as there were no signs of forced entry at the scene. He suspects that thieves employed sophisticated devices capable of intercepting and replicating the signals emitted by electronic key fobs, enabling them to unlock and start vehicles effortlessly.
The proliferation of car-starting technology, while enhancing convenience for users, has inadvertently provided criminal syndicates with new avenues for theft, as highlighted by Ontario Provincial Police detective Scott Wade. Thousands of vehicles have vanished from major cities in Quebec and Ontario in recent months, with many making their way to markets in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Montreal and Toronto have emerged as the primary targets, with alarming spikes in theft rates reported over the past few years. In Toronto alone, thefts of cars and light trucks have surged by a staggering 150 percent between 2021 and 2023, underscoring the severity of the situation. These thefts predominantly occur during the night, with vehicles disappearing from driveways while their owners sleep, although some brazen incidents involve thefts at gunpoint or even in broad daylight.
The origins of this crime wave can be traced back to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which severely constrained vehicle manufacturing and led to a surge in demand amidst reduced supply. The resulting imbalance created lucrative opportunities for organized crime networks, who capitalized on the heightened demand for stolen vehicles in foreign markets.
While efforts to combat this epidemic are underway, the data paints a grim picture, with organized crime groups driving a significant portion of the thefts. In 2023 alone, the number of car thefts attributed to organized crime surged by 62 percent compared to the previous year, underscoring the urgency of the situation and the need for decisive action to curb this rampant criminal activity.
