THE ONGOING CAR THEFT CRISIS
According to the Équité Association, Towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trend of auto theft saw a steady incline. In 2022, there were over 1.2 billion dollars of Canadian insurance claims. Current stats reveal that a car is stolen every 5 minutes in Canada. The car thefts that are occurring today are becoming more violent and brazen. Unfortunately, home invasions are becoming the new smash-and-grab.
Cellutrak Canada Inc. (Cellutrak) was invited to attend the National Summit to Combat Auto Theft. This event was designed to discuss the issue and work together to review solutions. There were important representatives from government, car manufacturers, insurance companies, and consumer groups. Each had their perspective and all were committed to finding solutions.
Based out of Montreal, Cellutrak Canada Inc. is a GPS-tracking company specializing in theft prevention and fleet management. The senior management of the company has been concerned about the auto theft epidemic in Canada for years and congratulates the Government of Canada for establishing this important summit.
Cellutrak offers a full suite of telematics to consumers and businesses using technology that provides solutions to over 2.5 million subscribers worldwide. Our company has witnessed firsthand the increase in car thefts and has worked to successfully recover millions of dollars worth of vehicles in 2023. In fact, through its experience, Cellutrak has learned that attacking this issue requires a broad-based solution that includes education and technology. It is important to note that vehicle owners are learning to develop good security practices such as locking their cars, protecting their keys, and practicing safe parking protocols. However, as thieves become sophisticated, technology is increasingly becoming an essential part of the solution. Furthermore, simple technological solutions can be ineffective.
TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO COMBAT CAR THEFT
Radio Frequency (Rf) Technology Vs. Global Positioning System (GPS) Tracking Technology
The best way to describe the difference between these two types of technology:
Preventative vs. Reactive.
GPS Tracking technology works with satellite and cellular networks to provide real-time information. From real-time locations to real-time alerts this information is specific and accurate. One essential feature for prevention is the remote starter enable/disable. This is a deterrent and a bold feature that can be used daily. Whether it is parking your car on a side street or in your driveway shutting down your vehicle’s engine prevents a car thief from easily stealing your vehicle. Another important role in prevention is setting up real-time geozones to be notified when a vehicle enters or exits a zone.
RF technology works with RF tags being installed in a vehicle. The only way to communicate with these type of tags is with an RF receiver as well as a backend management platform. This only becomes a possibility after a theft and one of the top providers requires a police report.
THREE STAGES OF CAR THEFT
Cellutrak’s GPS Tracking solution focuses on and provides different measures for the three stages of car theft. The best anti-theft car device will provide protocols at each stage. Cellutrak has over 30 protocols for car theft prevention.
Before A Theft
At this stage, a car has not been stolen yet. It might have been identified. A powerful GPS tracker will have different alerts set up to secure the vehicle. Real-time data is a two-way street.
During A Theft
With ignition alerts and geozone alerts, car owners are notified if their vehicle has compromised and can be tracked while in motion. The mobile or web-based application also allows them to remotely disable or enable the starter. This is considered a crime in process and police are more inclined to react with all the information available.
After A Theft
Once a vehicle has come to a stop, and the final location is identified, Cellutrak’s customer service agents can provide local authorities with the detailed information they need to obtain the necessary warrants to recover the vehicle in a timely manner. Disabling the vehicle’s starter also ensures that the vehicle won’t be going anywhere during the recuperation process.
THE ROLE OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY
At the National Summit to Combat Auto Theft, insurance companies presented their stolen vehicles and recoveries statistics. These statistics seemed very low considering they are mandating consumers to install RF technology. In some instances, they are covering the costs and in others, consumers have to cover the costs. With the increase in criminal sophistication, the recovery rates that insurance companies are reporting are clearly deteriorating and have reached an unacceptable level.
It is the role of insurance companies to conduct a proper analysis of innovative car anti-theft device technology that are currently offered in the marketplace. Insurance companies should be considering all types of technology including proven GPS tracking technology that specializes in both car theft prevention and car theft recovery.
A common question that pops up is do insurance companies cover the cost of a theft?
The costs associated with theft include the vehicle, vehicle contents, rental cars, loss of time, stress, and feeling unsafe. It is impossible for insurance companies to cover all these associated costs, however, they can work on a solution to prevent these thefts from occurring.
According to Équité Association, the most stolen vehicles in Ontario are:
- Honda CR-V 2020
- Lexus RX-Series 2020
- Dodge Ram 1500 2022
- Toyota Highlander 2021
- Land Rover Range Rover 2020
- Ford F150 Series 2020
- Jeep Grand Cherokee 2021
- Jeep Wrangler 2021
- Honda Civic 2019
- Acura RDX 2021
This lineup of vehicles is similar across provinces with a few moving up and down the list. With this information, insurance companies should implement GPS-tracking car anti-theft devices on all these models.
CONSUMER EMPOWERMENT WITH THE BEST CAR ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
Car owners are being exploited by organized crime gangs in several different ways. Not only are they becoming violent in their methods, but they have taken away a sense of safety and security that car owners feel. Car owners work hard to buy the car that they want. Once they purchase that car, there is a sense of stress when parking their car in their driveway, going out for dinner, or even going on vacation. They have been powerless against the situation created.
Empowering consumers means equipping them with unlimited access and real-time information. Cellutrak’s software is available in a web-based or mobile-based application that requires secured credentials to access information. Cellutrak’s customer service department provides unlimited trainings to educate users on how best to use the system based on their requirements.
Having information in real-time including proactive alerts that come to your smartphone, laptop, or computer via email or text message allows consumers to feel more confident in leaving their vehicle. Backed by a 24/7 theft hotline, Cellutrak’s customers have the tools to act and work with an experienced team to catch these criminals and get their vehicles back.
CONCLUSION
Car theft in Canada isn’t slowing down, and proactive measures need to be implemented by the different parties involved. Education is essential to reaching the right solution. If the government, insurance organizations, and police authorities act and implement, car theft statistics in Canada will begin the decline. It starts today, with Cellutrak’s real-time GPS tracking theft prevention technology available today.
