Approximately three-quarters of Brampton, Ont. residents worry about their car being stolen, suggests a poll conducted for the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).

According to poll responses, 73 per cent of Brampton residents are concerned that their car will be stolen.

The IBC adds that the number of theft claims has skyrocketed in Brampton, increasing 133 per cent between 2018 and 2022.

“Vehicle thefts in Brampton outpace the auto theft rate in other parts of Ontario by about 20 per cent,” said Amanda Dean, interim vice-president, Ontario, IBC, in a Dec. 14 news release. “That’s saying something considering Ontario has the highest rate of auto thefts in the country.

IBC says auto theft hurts everyone’s pocketbook. On average, Ontario drivers pay $130 per year in insurance premiums to settle claims for stolen vehicles.

The Équité Association offers some tips for protecting your vehicle from being stolen. You can read those tips online.

The poll was conducted online by Pollara Strategic Insights between Oct. 13 and 27, 2023.

Learn more about auto theft from the IBC, visit endautotheft.ca.

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