Auto thefts in Canada are way down, according to a new report that gives much of the credit to increased collaboration between government and law enforcement.
In Ontario alone, the number of vehicles reported stolen dropped nearly 26 per cent during the first half of 2025.
“I am cautiously optimistic,” says Bryan Gast, national vice-president of investigative services at Équité Association, the group that authored the report. “I’m not suggesting that we have this beat. We have to continue doing what we’re doing, and hopefully next year we’ll see a very similar downward trend.”
A recent guest on Village Media’s new Closer Look podcast, Gast said more still needs to be done to help authorities detect and flag vehicles that have been “re-vinned.”
What is revinning? Simply put, it’s when a criminal alters the fingerprint of a vehicle.
Every car has a VIN, a unique 17-character code. “Revinning” occurs when someone alters the VIN of a stolen vehicle to conceal its true identity, enabling it to be registered and re-sold to an unsuspecting buyer.
“Essentially, they try to mask that stolen vehicle and legitimize it,” Gast says.
You can watch his full interview HERE.
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