Public Safety Canada published an update on October 9 about the progress made under the National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft. The update discusses the collective actions taken by the government and partners between November 2024 and May 2025.

In addition to sharing available import and export vehicle identification number (VIN) data with the Équité Association and Carfax, the plan also provided funding to the Government of Quebec to support policing efforts that provide intelligence to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

The plan provides for increased export cargo container examinations and awarded eight grants, valued at $150,000 each, to Canadian small and medium sized companies to develop solutions that deter and prevent vehicle theft. Coursework for law enforcement, targeted assessments of high-risk port facilities and follow up inspections to verify compliance with security plans are also discussed.

In 2024 they say police-reported incidents dropped 17 per cent. In the first half of 2025 there was a 19 per cent decrease reported when compared to the same period last year.

The CBSA intercepted 2,277 stolen vehicles in railyards and ports in 2024, a 25 per cent increase compared to the previous year. In 2025 so far, 1,185 vehicles have been recovered.

In discussing examples of the work being supported, the National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft notes the work of Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) and the Winnipeg Police Services’ (WPS) commercial stolen auto unit after the two organizations dismantled a VIN cloning auto theft operation focused on high-end, stolen vehicles from Ontario. In this case, rather than export the cars, the vehicles were being re-registered in Manitoba and sold through local dealerships and online platforms. The effort resulted in the seizure of 17 vehicles worth over $1-million and the arrest of a Winnipeg resident.

“WPS continues to operate the Commercial Stolen Auto Unit (CSAU). This unit was developed over 15 years ago to combat the growing issue of auto theft in the city. The CSAU works closely with other agencies, including MPI, with a focus on preventing thefts, investigating incidents and providing support to those affected by stolen vehicles,” the action plan states.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) weighed in on the plan’s update, saying the rate of auto theft in Canada has dropped by 21 per cent over the past year. That said, they warn that auto theft rates remain above historical levels. “Since 2014, auto theft claims have increased by 115 per cent and auto theft losses have risen by 371 per cent,” they write.