With vehicle theft rising in Canada, what are automakers doing to beef up security? – National

With automobile theft surging throughout Canada, the auto trade is introducing new methods to beef up safety and forestall stolen vehicles from getting exported outdoors of the nation.

A report by Équité Affiliation printed in November stated there was a rise in thefts for export, elevated use of refined theft know-how, and high-end automobile thefts.

It’s a “coast-to-coast downside,” stated Bryan Gast, vice chairman of investigative companies at Équité Affiliation, with Ontario main the variety of autos stolen within the nation, adopted by Quebec and Alberta.

For instance in Toronto final 12 months, there have been 9,439 studies of auto theft — a soar of practically 45 per cent from the earlier 12 months. Toronto Police Service data present that auto theft has elevated yearly yearly since 2018.

It’s an identical story in Calgary, which noticed a 24.5 per cent rise in automobile theft incidents final 12 months, as of October 2022.

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Lingering international provide chain points introduced on by the COVID-19 pandemic with restricted stock and huge demand have pushed the rise in auto theft, consultants say — and arranged crime networks are cashing in through the use of Canada as “a supply nation.”

“Now you’re beginning to see different international locations concentrating on Canada for his or her autos,” Gast stated.

The autos are stolen for export, to be used within the fee of different offences, for the aim of rebuilding, and for the smallest share, joyriding, he stated.

Car closing is when a automobile is stolen, given a fraudulent identification quantity after which bought to unsuspecting individuals who’re defrauded of their cash, in accordance with TPS.

Whereas the advances in know-how with keyless driving have helped with comfort for automotive homeowners, it has additionally opened up the door for vulnerabilities.

Toronto police advised World Information that there’s a “rising difficulty of ‘auto thefts via know-how,’ with the vast majority of autos being stolen having keyless ignition methods.”

Gast recognized two primary ways in which criminals use know-how to steal vehicles. One is thru the onboard diagnostic port, which each automotive is legally mandated to have. It displays emissions, mileage, pace, and different information about your automotive and permits a mechanic to verify for any issues.

If criminals are capable of get their fingers on any such know-how, they’ll break into the automobile and reprogram a key fob. “That is undoubtedly an growing development,” Gast stated.

One other approach is thru the “relay assault,” during which the criminals use available and low-cost instruments to intercept the radio frequency sign between the automobile and the important thing fob.

“Any time there’s a know-how development, evidently thieves are, in a number of methods, one step forward or not too far behind,” stated David Adams, president and CEO of the World Automakers of Canada.

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SUVs are probably the most generally stolen vehicles in Canada.

Among the many 10 most stolen autos within the nation final 12 months, the Honda CR-V topped the listing, adopted by the Lexus RX Sequence, the Ford F150 Sequence, the Honda Civic and the Toyota Highlander.

Since 2007, it has been necessary in Canada to equip all autos with anti-theft engine immobilizers, stated Jennifer McCarthy, a spokesperson for Hyundai.

She stated all present Canadian-market Hyundai and Genesis autos are geared up with digital immobilizers and moreover fitted with automobile alarms.

Hyundai Bluelink and Genesis Related Providers additionally provide the power to find stolen autos via the app’s “Discover My Automobile” perform.

Honda says it’s regularly engaged on methods to enhance automobile safety, together with via an app that lets automotive homeowners keep related to their automobile remotely utilizing a appropriate smartphone.

Honda’s stolen automobile locator service makes use of refined know-how to help the authorities with discovering your automotive, stated Jon Bordignon, a spokesperson for Honda Canada.

The app additionally has a Discover My Automobile function and a Geofence Alert, which notify you when your automotive enters or leaves a delegated area.

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Producers have additionally made it doable to show your key fob off, which is a “important step,” Gast stated.

There has additionally been some progress in relation to the onboard diagnostic port, with the introduction of a faceplate lock that makes it troublesome to entry the port.

Adams stated automakers have a accountability to mitigate automobile theft and are continually taking a look at methods to make sure that their merchandise don’t find yourself in prison fingers.

“No producer needs to place a automobile available on the market after which simply have it stolen as quickly because it’s delivered to the client,” he stated.

Gast stated a “collaborative method” is required involving regulation enforcement, automotive producers, the insurance coverage and banking trade, in addition to customers, to ramp up safety.

Homeowners can take quite a few steps to make their autos a bit bit more durable to steal, he stated.

Police advise in opposition to leaving a operating automobile unattended even for a minute.

When parking, TPS says to search for a well-lit and attended space if doable and switch your wheels in direction of the curb to make it tougher to tow. When at house, a movement sensor gentle will be put in, TPS stated.

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A steering wheel lock is one other approach to assist deter thieves, police officers and consultants say.

There are additionally pedal locks and you may go as far as to put in a hidden disable change, often known as the “kill change,” so even when a prison is ready to get into your automotive, they’ll’t begin it, Gast stated.

Monitoring companies that normally include a sticker put up on the window may also function a deterrent, he added.