| Watch out would-be car thieves — bait cars may be coming to a neighbourhood near you. Vehicle theft in Calgary has risen more than 40 per cent in the past year with more than 6,000 vehicles stolen in 2006. As a result, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is encouraging the Calgary Police Service to take new and innovative measures to slow down the frequency of this crime. New steps include the introduction of a bait-car program with vehicles that have been outfitted with video cameras and GPS systems placed on them to catch thieves.
"Without a doubt, bait-car programs work," says Wally Purcell, western director of IBC. In several cities in the U.S. and Canada, bait car programs deter crime but also yield evidence used in court against car thieves when the electronically outfitted vehicles are stolen. IBC, the national trade association for Canadian insurance companies says bait cars will help slow down the rate of car theft in Calgary. "Car theft in Calgary costs $43 for every driver," says Purcell. "That’s every driver in a household."
Next door in B.C., the use of bait cars is credited with dramatically lowering the number of stolen vehicles in that province. According to the Insurance Corporation of B.C., stolen vehicle claims dropped 30 per cent in 2006, a trend that has continued since the bait car program was introduced in 2002. "For the fourth consecutive year, auto crime is down in B.C.," reported Solicitor General John Les at a recent news conference. "The numbers are clear – our provincial auto crime strategy is working and bait cars remain a significant trap for would-be car thieves."
Yet, in Alberta, the story of stolen cars is much different. Statistics Canada reports this was the only province in the country where auto theft increased in 2006. One city in Alberta that is now taking action is Edmonton, where the Edmonton Police Service has launched a specialized unit known as The Tactical Response to Auto-Theft Prevention or TRAP. In addition to TRAP, a bait-car program was introduced in October, 2006.
In Calgary, auto theft remains a major concern. One car-theft operation was shut down in April. According to police, two individuals were stealing large trucks that were located in long-term parking lots. The value of the trucks, which had been dismantled for parts, is reported to be more than $1 million.
To alter the situation, IBC is now in discussions with police forces in southern Alberta (including the Calgary Police Service) to encourage the adoption of a province-wide bait car program. The proposed initiative would see the creation of a pool of police-monitored vehicles that could be shared by the municipalities of Calgary, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. "It costs approximately $5,000 to equip each vehicle," says Purcell. "So if you have a provincial program the various jurisdictions could draw from a pool of let’s say 20 or more vehicles." He adds, "Calgary is considering a bait car program. It improves your options."
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According to the Calgary Police Service the following are the top 10 most popular automobiles among thieves:
· Chevrolet/GMC Trucks
· Chevrolet Cavalier/Pontiac Sunbird
· Toyota Camry
· Jeep Cherokee
· Oldsmobile Cutlass
· Honda Civic
· Plymouth /Dodge Van
· Chrysler Neon
· Ford Truck
· Dodge Truck |
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