Keyless entry is among the rising trends in the latest automotive technologies, providing a quick and responsive way to start your vehicle with one central device. With the rising incidents of theft in Ontario, have you ever wondered if your vehicle is at risk?

According to Équité Association, a new organization formed from the investigative branch of the Insurance Bureau of Canada and CANATICS, about 80,000 vehicles were stolen in 2021¹. Typically with car thefts in the past, older and common vehicle models would generally be targeted, but the days of hotwiring may be at a close due to the resourcefulness of new age thieves. According to the Toronto Police Service, the majority of incidents focus around common Honda, Toyota and Lexus models that were cited to be from 2017-2021, something that wasn’t prevalent in car thefts even 5 years ago². Your insurer can likely inform you if your vehicle is a common target of theft.

Using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology at a close proximity, key FOB signals are susceptible to being duplicated at a close distance, and with the use of an amplifying device it can be retrieved from the inside of your home. Thieves are able to amplify that signal from the outside of your property in order to gain access to your vehicle and hit the road – in comparison, stealing a car is likely easier to do than it has been in the past.

What can you do to protect yourself?
Fortunately, there are still some ways that you can protect yourself and your vehicle from theft even with these new advancements in theft technology.

• Place your key FOB in a protected RFID pouch or closed metal container.

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• Use anti-theft devices such as car alarms, steering column locks, or have an electronic immobilizer installed in your vehicle.

• Consider installing a GPS tracking unit.

• Park your vehicle in your garage.

• Lock your car manually by using the lock button, this limits another signal you’d have to send out that could potentially be duplicated.

What do to if your car is stolen

• The police should be contacted first in order for the crime to be reported.

• If you have comprehensive coverage, call your insurer to report a claim of your stolen vehicle.

• Confirm that you have Loss of Use coverage - this provides you with a replacement vehicle or reimburses you for your transportation costs, while your vehicle is being repaired or replaced.

Unsure if you have comprehensive or Loss of Use coverage on your current OTIP car insurance policy? Call 1-833-494-0089 to speak to our service team to review. Not insured with OTIP? Call 1-833-615-9326 to get a quote.
 

1. https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/gone-in-30-seconds-behind-the-rise-of-car-thefts-across-ontario-1.5699987

2. https://globalnews.ca/news/8433832/toronto-most-stolen-vehicles-2021-police/

3. https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=6c0b3ebb-b6f1-4126-a6f5-ad3943a86574

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