Motor vehicle theft is one of the most commonly reported crimes in Canada. In British Columbia, an estimated 48 vehicles are stolen every day. Vehicles are typically stolen for three reasons: recreation, transportation, or profit. Vehicles stolen for recreation primarily involve youth attempting to establish status among peers. This form of motor vehicle theft involves joyriding or stealing a vehicle for fun. Vehicles stolen for transportation are often stolen for a single-trip. These vehicles may also be stolen for use in other offences, such as break and enter. Vehicles stolen for profit are either stolen directly for resell or in order to sell the vehicle’s individual parts. These vehicles may also be falsely reported stolen for the purposes of insurance fraud by the vehicle’s owner.
