The hidden costs of having a vehicle stolen
Auto theft has surged in recent years and while police have made significant gains to stop criminals in their tracks and recover those cars and trucks, there remains frustration for victims, who are not always covered by insurance.
As Luc Robichaud slept, thieves walked up the drive of his Cassleman, Ont. home in early January, drilled a small hole in the driver's-side window to pop the lock, and ultimately drove off in his brand new Dodge Ram pickup truck.
"I noticed my truck had been stolen and luckily I was able to track it with the Ram app," he says. "This led OPP to recover the truck and they arrested four people out of the whole thing on the highway on the way to Montreal."
The Quebec port is a popular spot for criminals to bring stolen vehicles. That's where they are shipped overseas, and almost never recovered.
After police processed Robichaud's vehicle, it was towed to a dealership, where it remains because of continued supply chain problems.
"They [the criminals] pulled the infotainment system out of the dash, cut the harness at the back," says Robichaud. "I’ve been waiting for the parts for three months now and it’s going to be as much of a surprise to the service department as it is going to be for me when it actually arrives. I’m still making the payments, still paying insurance, and my insurance was covering about $1,500 worth of rental vehicle, which I blew through in a month."
And along with time, the costs are adding up on a vehicle he cannot drive, all part of a seemingly, never-ending nightmare.
Robichaud is not alone in this situation.
"Auto thefts increased in Ontario by almost 15 per cent between 2020 and 2021," says Anne Marie Thomas, director of consumer and industry relations, with the Insurance Bureau of Canada. "Theft and pandemic supply chain issues … are all part and parcel of what is contributing to the increased claims cost that insurance companies are seeing, and of course consumers, as well."
Thomas also notes that as the amount of money insurance companies pay out in claims could eventually increase the overall cost of coverage for all drivers.
"Insurance companies base their premiums partly on underwriting profitability, so if they're paying out a lot in claims, it stands to reason that they are going to have to increase rates to recoup some of that money," says Thomas.
Technology has been a main driver of the increase in vehicle thefts, with criminals using handheld devices to quickly gain access to cars. A car can disappear from a driveway in a matter of minutes.
"It’s an ongoing issue and growing issue not just for the province of Ontario but I would certainly say Canada as a whole," says Const. Justin Dickson, with the Ontario Provincial Police. "This is something we’re seeing every day on our highways. We’re coming across stolen vehicles and police are working diligently stopping these vehicles arresting these criminals who are being held responsible and accountable for this."
Dickson adds that consumers can also use technology to their advantage in protecting their property, with at-home solutions that include parking in a garage if possible, installing surveillance cameras and bright flood lights pointed at a vehicle that are activated by motion.
"And if their vehicle is stolen, they can provide police with possible description of the accused," says Dickson. "Also, installing tracking devices that could be manufacturer-made or third party made that you put in your vehicle on your own. Some of these tracking devices may send an alert to your phone if your vehicle starts moving when you’re not in it."
While Robichaud must now accept the cost of the theft, including the depreciated value of his new vehicle, what frustrates him the most right now is the time spent, and wasted, on waiting for the parts to arrive, a problem he does not blame on the dealership.
"Ram must realize that you can’t just ignore your customers. I understand that they have different part sources for the manufacturers and the parts department but, at the end of the day, you need to look after your customers," he says. "I’m hoping Ram sees this and says all right we need to get parts out to people that have vehicles that are sitting on lots waiting to get fixed."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.