In spite of new technology and different approaches to the crime, car theft is still a major issue across the country. Constable Darryl Morgan was recently in the province to discuss auto theft and the damage it causes.
Morgan is an expert in the field. An RCMP member with 23 years of service, Morgan has conducted over 1,000 vehicle examinations and has been involved in the seizure of more than 400 vehicles throughout his service.
The cars most likely to be stolen in Saskatchewan are older model pickup trucks, with Ford, GM and Dodge claiming the top three spots. Older models in particular are popular targets in the province, and Morgan explains that part of the appeal of these vehicles is the ease of which they can be stolen.
"A lot of older vehicles are still on the road in Saskatchewan, as a result they're subject to theft by those who aren't so much of an expert themselves on vehicle theft. It's easier to steal an older model car simply because there are no immobilizers on them," Morgan says.
He explains that during his time in the province, 7 vehicles were stolen in a 12 hour period, all of which were models made between 1985 to 1998. Since the province does not use as much salt on the roads as is used on the east coast, there are more older model vehicles surviving as well.
The popularity of trucks is also due to the market for pickup trucks in the province, and their popularity as a second vehicle, Morgan says.
"What will likely happen is, opposed to the vehicle being sent away, I suspect that the they are just being re-vinned - which means the vehicle identification number being taken off the dash - and once that VIN is taken off the vehicle is sold to an unsuspecting buyer. What will likely happen is that the owner, a year later, might run across their own vehicle driving down the road," Morgan says.
Car theft has been going down, and Morgan explains that with newer models becoming more difficult to steal and older models leaving the roads, it makes car theft more difficult for the average thief.
There are primarily two groups stealing cars in the country. One is young offenders, either those who are out to joyride or those who are stealing cars for parts or personal use. These offenders tend to target older model vehicles. The other group is those involved in organized crime, where theft is part of a larger crime organization. They will target models with a high resale value for parts or the complete vehicle.
Morgan recommends that people with high risk vehicles take steps to ensure their car is not an appealing target.
Vehicle immobilizing devices such as a club or an alarm system, for instance, make a car less easy to steal. Given the cold weather, Morgan says that when people are warming their cars up they should keep it locked. He also strongly recommends not keeping a car running when people run into a store or business to quickly get something, as that is an opportunity many car thieves cannot resist.
People need to be vigilant in ensuring their car is safe for many reasons, Morgan explains. One is to keep the car secure and avoid the various stresses that come with vehicle theft. The other is to ensure the safety of people in the community. Morgan explains that many auto theft related incidents lead to injury or death, including a recent incident where an Ontario Provincial Police officer was killed when he was struck by a stolen snow plow.
"Make sure your car is secure and don't leave your keys in there. Someone might steal your car, drive down the road and kill one of your family members or a neighbor," Morgan concludes.
