Nearly 8 in 10 Canadians Feel Their Vehicle Could Be Stolen

A new survey says most Canadians already sense what the theft numbers confirm. Their vehicle is a target.

Angus Reid ran the survey for Équité Association, the non-profit that tracks vehicle crime across the country. Nearly 80% of people said their vehicle is, or could be, vulnerable to theft. Three in four said anti-theft technology is now needed to stop it. Six in ten want theft protection built into new vehicles by law.

That worry is grounded. More than 47,000 vehicles were reported stolen in Canada in 2025. Over a third were never recovered.

Locking the door isn't the fix anymore

The message from the group behind the survey was blunt. Locking your door isn't enough, because organized crews have traded crowbars for technology.

Modern theft runs through the car's electronics, not a broken window. A thief copies the signal from your key, or programs a blank key through the diagnostic port, and the car treats it as legitimate. No alarm. No damage. Just an empty parking spot.

Alarms don't stop this, because nothing triggers them. Trackers don't either, because they only tell you where the car went after it's already gone.

What actually stops the drive-away

‍The Mastergard M9000 works on the part most products miss. It's a professionally installed immobilizer that requires a PIN before the engine will run. It's hidden inside the vehicle and custom-fit by a certified installer.

‍A thief can copy your key or program a new one. Without the PIN, the car doesn't start.

‍No GPS. No subscription. No monthly fee. The app is an optional way to disarm the system, never required to drive.

‍If nearly 80% of people feel exposed, the answer isn't one more habit. It's a layer that assumes the thief already has a key.

‍

Find a certified installer near you: mastergard.com/installerlocator

Source:  Angus Reid survey commissioned by Équité Association, reported July 21, 2026.