In the Montreal area, Zachary Siciliani’s car vanished without a trace, becoming just one victim in Canada’s escalating vehicle theft crisis. The Insurance Bureau of Canada has labeled it a ‘national crisis,’ with stolen vehicles being shipped through the bustling Port of Montreal to international car markets. With no signs of forced entry, Siciliani suspects thieves intercepted his key fob frequency and drove his car away. Ontario Provincial Police detective Scott Wade highlights the role of technology in these thefts: ‘While it has made driving more convenient, it has also given organized crime groups a way to steal vehicles.’ Quebec and Ontario, Canada’s most populous provinces, have faced a surge in vehicle thefts over the past several months, with most stolen cars ending up in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Despite efforts by police and owners using tracking sensors, many stolen vehicles remain unrecovered. Montreal and Toronto are among the hardest-hit cities, with Toronto experiencing a 150% increase in car and light truck thefts between 2021 and 2023. Experts attribute the theft wave to supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in high demand for vehicles at a time when supply was low. Organized crime networks are now heavily involved, exploiting the demand in foreign markets. Data from federal police shows a 62% increase in car thefts by organized crime groups in 2023 compared to the previous year. Insurance companies paid out a staggering Can$1.5 billion (US$1.1 billion) in stolen vehicle claims in 2023, a 254% increase since 2018. The Port of Montreal serves as a primary transit point for stolen vehicles. ‘Montreal is like a sieve,’ says Georges Iny, director of The Automobile Protection Association. The port’s strategic location on the Saint Lawrence River makes it a major hub for Atlantic shipping, connecting Canada to over 140 countries. However, it also poses a challenge for intercepting illegal goods without hindering trade. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has responded to the crisis by organizing a car theft summit with police, pledging to ban the sale and use of key hacking devices, increase penalties for car thieves, and enhance resources for the Canada Border Services Agency. Despite these measures, social media groups have sprung up to assist in locating stolen vehicles, but often, the cars are already on their way overseas. Siciliani, now driving a new Mazda 3, has installed a tracking device to protect it: ‘Our insurance company told us our rates would go up significantly unless we have this device in the car.’
