Auto Theft Down in P.G. and the Province

By 250 News

A new federal report on motor vehicle theft in Canada that shows an overall decline in B.C. auto theft, with a reduction of 8% from 2006 to 2007, proves that the Province's anti-theft strategies are working, says Solicitor General John van Dongen.

In Prince George,  stats are already indicating significant declines in auto theft in 2008.  By the end of the 3rd quarter in 2007, there had been  710 auto thefts  in Prince George.   During the same period  in 2008 that number had dropped to  338.

"My ministry works in partnership with police on a number of initiatives to reduce auto crime," said van Dongen. "These programs continue to be recognized for their effectiveness. Through the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team (IMPACT), strategies such as bait cars, automatic licence plate recognition, the stolen vehicle enforcement team, the use of police dogs, and the Air One helicopter, which allows police to safely track and apprehend auto thieves, all drive auto crime
down." 

The province's Integrated Road Safety Units (IRSUs) also work to prevent and reduce auto crime, and ICBC is working with police through IMPACT to offer immobilizing devices to owners of Ford F-series trucks to reduce theft.

The latest report from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics (CCJS) shows that in 2007, police reported 27,112 motor vehicle thefts in B.C., 2,276 fewer than reported in 2006.

IMPACT's Sergeant Gord Elias said police have made good progress so far. "We are encouraged by the decline - in 2007, B.C. reported a drop in motor vehicle thefts for the fourth consecutive year." Elias added that owners are also contributing to reducing auto theft - more than half of insured vehicles now have an immobilizer.

"There are parts of the province where the auto theft rate is still too high, so we clearly have more work to do," said van Dongen. "However, the Province is committed to driving down auto theft by supporting the police and helping to raise public awareness so that people can help protect themselves from car thieves."

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