A dramatic drop in auto theft in the Tri-Cities since 2003 is being attributed to the ICBC bait car program, which is celebrating its tenth year in operation.
According to ICBC statistics, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody have seen an 83% decrease in the number of reported incidents, which have declined from 1,710 in 2003 to 290 in 2011.
Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team Sgt. Gord Elias said while immobilizers and other security measures have helped reduce auto crime, the bait car program has had a major impact.
"We know car thieves have gone away from stealing vehicles because it has been made too risky for them," he said. "The chance of them getting caught is too high."
Coquitlam saw 9% fewer vehicle thefts in 2011 than 2010 and an 83% drop since the program began in 2003. Port Coquitlam had a 35% decrease in year-over-year figures and an 84% drop since bait cars were introduced in the municipality, while Port Moody saw a 32% drop since 2010 and an 86% decrease over the last decade.
Statistics showing that 93% of stolen cars are recovered indicates to police that chop shops and overseas vehicle shipping run by organized crime groups are a relatively small part of the auto theft problem, Elias said.
What is more likely, he added, is that the vehicles are being stolen for short term purposes. The average car thief is a male in his twenties with a drug addiction and a criminal record, who needs the car to steal other property or make some quick money.
When they are done, Elias said the vehicles are usually dumped.
"It is a vicious crime-drug cycle," he said. "They are stealing the cars to commit another crime so they can make money to buy drugs."
COQUITLAM
YEAR INCIDENTS
2003 1,110
2004 910
2005 730
2006 540
2007 480
2008 350
2009 310
2010 210
2011 190
2011 vs. 2010 -9%
2011 vs. 2003 -83%
PORT COQUITLAM
2003 490
2004 440
2005 390
2006 250
2007 220
2008 140
2009 150
2010 120
2011 80
2011 vs. 2010 -35%
2011 vs. 2003 -84%
PORT MOODY
2003 110
2004 90
2005 80
2006 70
2007 60
2008 40
2009 40
2010 20
2011 20
2011 vs. 2010 -32%
2011 vs. 2003 -86%
