OPP comes to tackle car thefts
Ontario provincial police have arrived in town to carry out a joint operation with the SPVM to arrest car thieves based in Montreal.
A curious detail in the Radio-Canada link: “Le coup de filet viserait le bas de la pyramide de l’écosystème du crime organisé […] Il ne serait pas question d’appréhender des têtes dirigeantes et des exportateurs illégaux, selon nos sources.”
Tim S. 20:35 on 2024-03-19 Permalink
That’s what happens when politicians demand quick action, according to all the cop shows I’ve ever watched.
Ephraim 13:18 on 2024-03-20 Permalink
@Tim S. – Which is spurred by the statistics for “reported crime”. When it comes to car theft, all the insurance companies are insisting on a police report, so the numbers are looking bad. Now, if we can only get the banks to demand a police report for every stolen credit card, every stolen bicycle and every other theft before indemnifying.
In fact, I would like to see a change in how banks are allowed to write off the losses from crime, to spur the reporting. They shouldn’t be allowed to claim the losses on their taxes unless there is a police report filed. And they should be required to disclose the amounts lost in their annual statements. Right now it’s completely hidden and they only report “Provision for credit losses on impaired loans” and Provision for credit losses on performing loans”, nothing about the profitability and losses related to their credit card processing at all! The closest is reporting “write-offs” in the annual report, but that doesn’t have to be fraud, that would include bankruptcy and even negotiated settlements of debt.
Tim S. 17:08 on 2024-03-20 Permalink
I don’t disagree in general, Ephraim, but I’m pretty sure in this case it’s because car thefts and apparent police and governmental impotence are constantly headline news/all over social media.
Ephraim 17:57 on 2024-03-20 Permalink
Yup, crime statistics have made the news. Some people have had their cars stolen repeatedly. What we really need are laws to put the onus on the car manufacturers to harden the car security. PIN to drive, for example. So even if you get in, you get the car started, it won’t engage without the PIN.