Auto Crime Statistics & Prevention

As people return to the workplace, post-secondary students resume in-person learning, and more things open up, parking lots are once again full of vehicles that are left unattended for hours at a time. During Auto Crime Enforcement Month, the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team (IMPACT), Government of BC, and ICBC, are reminding people to Be Car Smart when it comes to their vehicles.

In British Columbia, a vehicle is broken into every twelve minutes and a vehicle is stolen every sixty- three minutes. Our theme this year encourages vehicle owners to Think Like a Thief by asking themselves what might make their vehicle an easy target.

THIEF Acronym:

• T – Take your keys
• H – Hide your valuables
• I – Inspect before you go
• E – Every lock matters
• F – Find a well-lit parking spot

“Auto theft is a crime of opportunity,” says Staff Sergeant Greg Yanicki, acting Officer in Charge of IMPACT. “Taking a few seconds to secure your vehicle can make all the difference. We want drivers to think like a thief and ask themselves what might make their vehicle an easy target.”