British Columbia Gets Tough On Car Theft

With 22,000 cars stolen in British Columbia last year, the province’s attorney general is calling for tougher penalties to combat car theft.

Ujjal Dosanjh also said Friday he will consider the Insurance Corporation of B.C.’s offer to fund a special police unit dedicated to auto crime.

“My ministry is happy to be receiving the indication from ICBC that they will fund a squad,” Dosanjh said. “We’re considering it.”

Auto theft is on the rise in British Columbia. The 1996 stolen-car tally was up from 16,000 in 1996. The Crown-owned insurance company paid out $92 million in stolen-auto claims in 1996, compared with $63 million in 1995.