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Each and every year, a stolen vehicle costs Manitobans millions of dollars.
More than 950,000 vehicles are insured through Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). On average, 4,000 vehicles are reported stolen every year, forcing MPI to pay $40 million a year in damage and total replacement costs.
“With the cost of vehicles and repair costs going up, the net cost to Manitobans for stolen vehicles will continue to climb, and the number is very high,” said John Bowering, Vice President & Chief Claims Officer at MPI in a news release. “We can all help mitigate those costs by practicing prevention, whether something as simple as ensuring your doors are locked to watching out for other vehicles parked on the street and reporting anything suspicious.”
July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, and MPI gives Manitobans some tips on how to protect their vehicle:
- Never leave your vehicle running unattended
- Never leave your vehicle keys/fobs unattended, and consider where you keep your keys at home so potential thieves cannot use technology to copy the fob’s signal and create their own key
- Park in well-lit areas or a locked/secure garage
- When parking your car, always close the windows and lock the doors
- Put valuables and packages in the trunk, where they are not visible