For Immediate Release: November 5, 2009

(Toronto, ON) – A professional can steal your vehicle in just 30 seconds – without the key. The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) and Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) are encouraging citizens to “Lock It or Lose It”. The goal of the proactive crime prevention program is to encourage drivers to take a few simple precautions that will protect their vehicles and vehicle contents from theft.

An unlocked door or an open window is an invitation to thieves. The “Lock It or Lose It” program reminds drivers to always:

• Roll up their vehicles’ windows;
• Keep valuables out of sight;
• Lock their doors; and,
• Pocket their keys.

Under the “Lock It or Lose It” program, police officers examine parked vehicles to confirm they are locked and that no valuables have been left in plain view.

"A small notice placed on every vehicle checked indicates what safety precautions were neglected and offers a few simple prevention tips, drivers can use to protect their vehicles against theft,” said OACP President Chief Daniel Parkinson (Cornwall Community Police Service). “The notice also congratulates those who have taken the time to ensure their vehicle is secure, with valuables out of sight.”

According to Richard Dubin, IBC Vice-President, Investigative Services, auto theft costs Canadians more than $1 billion every year.

“In 2008, 125,000 vehicles were stolen in Canada and, of those, nearly 31,000 were stolen in Ontario. About half of all stolen vehicles are used to commit another crime or are driven – often recklessly – for simple purposes of transportation (this is called “destination theft”), “said Dubin. “In these cases, the thieves are usually amateurs who take advantage of owner negligence by grabbing the first vehicle they can find that’s been left unsecured. In the other cases, vehicles are stolen by professional thieves involved in organized crime rings.”

Vehicles left warming up in driveways on cold mornings or outside of coffee shops, convenience stores, and ATM locations, are also vulnerable to being stolen. Criminal organizations target high-end vehicles for export. Many of thefts of vehicles and thefts of vehicle contents are easily prevented. The key to protecting your vehicle is in your hands. Keep yourself from becoming an easy target by properly securing your vehicle. Remember: Lock It or Lose It!

Thanks to the partnership and generous support of Insurance Bureau of Canada, this program, including vehicle notices, is now available to all police services in Ontario. More details about crime - proofing may be found on-line at:  www.ibc.ca/en/Insurance_Crime/Auto_Theft/.

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For more information, contact:

Inspector Mark Allen
OACP, Crime Prevention Committee 
(705) 329-6435                                                                                                                            

James Geuzebroek
Insurance Bureau of Canada
416-362-2031 ext. 4364

Members of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police serve their communities as the senior police leaders in municipal, regional, provincial, national, and First Nations police services across Ontario.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national industry association representing Canada’s private home, car and business insurers.  Its member companies represent nearly 95% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada.

Please find attached background information and please visit the following link to download the OACP Auto theft booklet   http://www.oacp.ca/upload5/committees/Autotheft_book_.pdf.