How to Help Prevent Auto Theft
Three Questions With: Elliott Silverstein, director of government relations at CAA Insurance Company, who shares insights and steps you can take to protect your vehicle.
By Alexis Nicols
The Honda Civic is one of the top 10 most stolen vehicles in Ontario. | PHOTO: PEDRO HENRIQUE/ADOBE STOCK
While there has been news about efforts to reduce auto theft, it continues to be a significant issue. Even as prevention efforts increase, auto thieves remain persistent and innovative in their methods. But there are ways to reduce the risk with a few everyday habits and the right tools. We spoke with Elliott Silverstein, director of government relations at CAA Insurance Company, who shares insights into auto theft prevention devices and practical steps to safeguard your vehicle. He also advises on what to do if your vehicle appears on Équité Association’s list of the most stolen cars in Ontario — Équité is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy education and industry data for Canada’s insurance industry.
Click here to view Ontario’s top 10 most stolen vehicles of 2024.
Practical steps
Q1
For drivers who want to feel confident about preventing auto theft, what are the first practical steps you recommend?
If you have a garage, use it. Parking your car in the garage keeps it safer. | PHOTO: SBDIGIT/iSTOCK
Silverstein: When it comes to drivers trying to protect their vehicles, there are a few things they can do in terms of habits. The data that we’ve seen over the last couple of years is that nearly one in five drivers don’t lock their car doors, so that’s an immediate way to help prevent auto theft. If you leave your car open, you make it extremely vulnerable to thieves looking for opportunity. While it’s not a foolproof deterrent, it certainly makes it harder for them to gain access.
Where you park your car matters. Some people park outdoors, and others in garages. What we’ve seen is that only 40 percent of those with garages actually use them for their vehicles. Get a shed to put your other supplies [in] and use your garage to store your vehicle.
Keep your valuables hidden or not in the car at all, because whether it be tablets, laptops or other valuables, if you’re parking outdoors, you don’t want to give thieves another reason to access the vehicle.
Multi-factor authentication
Q2
Is there any new technology, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), that can help reduce the risk further?
Multi-factor authentication utilizes a fob requiring you to enter a PIN before your engine will start — essentially like adding a password to your vehicle. | PHOTO: VIPUBADEE/ADOBE STOCK
Silverstein: Thieves are sophisticated. They’re always retooling to try to figure out what to do next. We need to stay one step ahead of them. Part of CAA’s approach is to move beyond vehicle recovery and focus more on prevention. Multi-factor authentication [a secondary layer of protection utilizing a fob that requires a PIN before the engine can be turned on] is primarily an after-market product. While other insurance companies aren’t currently prioritizing it, CAA Insurance Company supports MFA. We believe we should make it harder for cars to be stolen in the first place. Our evidence indicates that this measure significantly reduces auto theft. While thieves may still attempt a break-in, the technology is effective in preventing theft, resulting in the vehicle remaining intact and in place. A vehicle is often somebody’s second-largest investment after their home, but we don’t have a ton of protection in the vehicle outside of what the manufacturer installed. We are encouraging and pushing for the standards on vehicles in Canada to be updated. These standards have not been updated since 2007. Thieves are now able to gain access to vehicles in mere seconds. Technologies such as Bluetooth and radio-frequency signals allow them to intercept key fob and remote key-access transmissions, enabling entry to the vehicle. Part of the issue is that the last time the standards were updated, we were living our lives holding Palm Pilots. Technology has evolved, and so should the security measures.
Preventative tips
Q3
What preventative tips can you recommend for those who own a vehicle on Équité Association’s list of the most stolen cars in Ontario?
Using a steering wheel lock, such as The Club, will help to deter thieves. | PHOTO: OASISAMUEL/ADOBE STOCK
Click here to view Ontario’s top 10 most stolen vehicles of 2024.
Silverstein: It can feel unsettling for car owners to see their car on the list. It’s important to understand what thieves are looking at right now, but it’s not an absolute. It doesn’t mean other cars aren’t being taken. Above all, thieves are looking for an easy target. If a vehicle is simple to take and can be shipped or resold quickly, it is at an increased risk for theft. This means that, whether or not your car is on the list, you still need to take precautions. There are some visual deterrents that can help. You can use a steering wheel lock — like The Club — on your steering column, or a wheel lock like the boot. If a thief has two vehicles side by side, they’re less likely to go after the one that requires more time to get access to. Assess what you can do to protect your vehicle. Understanding the risk factors will give you the ability to implement the most effective preventative measures. You want to mitigate the risk — and while you can’t prevent it entirely, you can make it more challenging for thieves to get access to your vehicle. CAA