Toronto, ON (July 14, 2025) \u2013 New data released by Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) show that the cost of auto theft in the Atlantic region has risen dramatically over the past decade in all four provinces, especially in New Brunswick.<\/p>\n
Despite dipping slightly in 2024, Atlantic Canada has seen an alarming increase in both the number of auto thefts and the related costs since 2014. Last year, auto theft insurance claims costs exceeded $31 million compared to $8.4 million in 2014 \u2013 a staggering 275% increase.<\/p>\n
New Brunswick has become the auto theft capital of the region, with 788 auto theft claims in 2024 at a cost of over $16 million. Auto theft\u2013related claims have increased 228% since 2014. Over the past decade, the three cities in Atlantic Canada with the largest increases in claims costs due to auto theft are all in New Brunswick: Saint John (520%), Moncton (746%) and Fredericton (1,672%).<\/p>\n
\u201cAll orders of government should continue to take action on the auto theft crisis in Atlantic Canada and across the country. However, it is most critical to tackle the crisis in New Brunswick to ensure it doesn\u2019t become one of the country\u2019s primary hot spots for vehicle thefts,\u201d said Amanda Dean, Vice-President, Ontario and Atlantic, IBC. \u201cAuto theft is not a victimless crime. A stolen car is just the tip of the iceberg. The proceeds from stolen vehicles fund organized crime, and the amount of this illicit funding is staggeringly high \u2013 and growing. The time to act is now.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2024, Prince Edward Island saw the biggest drop (18.8%) in auto theft claims from 2023 in the region. New Brunswick saw theft claims drop by 4.8% from 2023 to 2024. In contrast, theft claims rose by 12.4% in Nova Scotia and 5.6% in Newfoundland and Labrador over the same period.<\/p>\n
Table 1: Cities Most Affected by Auto Theft in Atlantic Canada, 2014\u201324, compared with 2023-24<\/strong><\/p>\n