Thefts, particularly those of vehicles, have increased markedly in Montreal since the end of the pandemic, a phenomenon amplified by the shortage of new cars due to the pandemic, according to the authorities.
For the first time, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has published statistical reports for crimes committed on the territory of each of its 29 neighborhood police stations.
These data, compiled by The Pressreport a marked increase in the number of thefts in the city last year compared to 2021, particularly with regard to vehicles.
No less than 7,161 “motor vehicles” were stolen during the first nine months of 2022, an increase of 62% compared to the same period the previous year.
The shortage in question
According to the SPVM, this phenomenon is partly explained by the shortage of vehicles caused by the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant shortages in all sectors of the economy, all over the world. This is the case for the semi-conductor industry, which is the main component of electronic chips, these essential parts for the manufacture of motor vehicles”, indicates Commander Yannick Desmarais, in an email sent to The Press.
“As a result, the price of those that were already on the road has also increased a lot, which has made them all the more attractive to thieves,” he continues.
According to Captain Yannick Desmarais, stolen vehicles are usually not destined for the local resale market.
Indeed, the operation would be too complex, in particular because of the serial numbers, which allow the authorities to trace them at the time of their registration.
In Montreal, the majority of stolen vehicles would rather be destined for “overseas export”, in particular because of the strategic location of the port, he specifies. In another case, the vehicle is dismantled and its parts sold on the local illegal market.
A simple modus operandi
The increase in the number of car thefts can be explained in a very simple way, according to Jesse Caron, automotive expert at CAA-Quebec: the number of cars equipped with smart keys is only increasing. None of the 10 most stolen vehicles in Quebec in 2020 was more than four years old, says CAA-Quebec.
This expert explains that the thieves will proceed in a very simple way, that is to say by using a signal “amplifier” near the victim’s residence, where the smart keys are often stored in the gate. An accomplice will then be standing near the targeted car, ready to open the door once the signal is transmitted to the car.
A simple way to guard against such theft is to store your keys inside a case that blocks RFID-type radio frequencies.
A simpler version may be to put the keys in a metal box with a lid, like a tea canister, explains Jesse Caron. The steering wheel lock is also a good alternative.
The SPVM indicates that since 2021 it has deployed additional resources to investigate motor vehicle thefts. “An integrated team comprising different police departments and of which we are a part was set up, also in 2021, to unify police efforts with the aim of countering the phenomenon as effectively as possible,” added Commander Yannick Desmarais. .
And the other flights
In addition to vehicle thefts, Montrealers have been reporting more and more thefts since 2021. In fact, larceny and robbery are up, by 26% and 18% respectively, again for the first three quarters.
There is also a marked increase in break-ins in metropolitan France, where 4,616 events of this type were recorded during the first nine months of 2022, i.e. 27% more than for the same period in 2021.
Finally, in another category, the number of individuals stopped for impaired driving was also up markedly last year compared to the first nine months of 2021; 758 drivers were arrested for drinking too much that year, compared to 1,040 in 2022, still during the first three quarters of the year.
With the collaboration of Pierre-André Normandin, The Press