Équité Association says the number of vehicles reported stolen in Canada during the first half of 2026 was 10 % lower than the same period a year earlier. The decline brings the national total close to the levels recorded before the 2021 surge that coincided with pandemic‑related shortages of new cars.
Steepest drop in Alberta
According to the non‑profit's latest data, Alberta posted the sharpest reduction, with thefts falling 15.1 % compared with the first half of 2025. The province's law‑enforcement agencies attribute the improvement to a combination of targeted operations and the rollout of advanced immobiliser systems.
Regional picture and lingering threats
Atlantic Canada saw the smallest improvement, slipping from 910 reported thefts in early 2025 to 873 in the same period this year, a 4.1 % decline. While overall numbers are receding, the report notes that luxury vehicles continue to be attractive to organised crime groups, and the proceeds still fund other illicit activities.
"Stakeholders have to continue doing what we're doing because if we take our foot off the gas, criminals will see this as a very high reward, low‑risk crime," said Bryan Gast, national vice‑president of intelligence and investigations at Équité Association.
Policy response and public sentiment
A survey by Angus Reid commissioned by the association found that nearly 80 % of Canadians believe their cars are vulnerable to theft and 60 % support mandatory anti‑theft technology in new vehicles. The findings arrive as the federal government implements a national action plan launched in 2024 that aims to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute the networks behind auto theft. The plan includes tougher penalties, increased inspections of shipping containers and enhanced intelligence sharing among law‑enforcement partners.
Équité's February report warned that, despite the downward trend, more than a third of the 47,000 vehicles stolen in 2025 were never recovered, and a spike in vehicle‑finance fraud was detected at ports in Montreal and Halifax. Analysts suggest that continued investment in vehicle‑security standards and cross‑border cooperation will be essential to sustain the recent gains.
Based on reporting by Global News.