Young offenders, Hells Angels and rogue shipping company owners are all part of a highly organized auto-theft ecosystem that stole 46,999 vehicles in Canada last year and cost Canadians $900 million in insurance costs, the Équité Association insurance industry group says.
“It’s definitely organized,” said Bryan Gast, national vice-president, intelligence and investigations at Équité Association, in an interview as the association announced its annual report on auto theft in Canada.
There were 19,319 vehicles taken in Ontario, with trucks, sport utility vehicles and high-end vehicles, such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis, being the most popular with thieves, Gast said.
