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Vehicle thefts, break-ins down across Capital Region: ICBC

Auto crime cut in half compared to same period last year; VicPD attribute arrests of prolific offenders to decrease

Despite a mid-summer spike in vehicle break-ins, ICBC is reporting a significant overall drop in break-ins and stolen cars across Greater Victoria this year.

In the first six months of 2012, there was a 51-per-cent decrease in thefts from vehicles compared with the same period last year. That trend was expected to continue into the latter half of 2012, given that Victoria police netted three of the city’s most prolific thieves in August.

“We had a huge Bait Car project in the summer called Operation Tourist Trap, and that put away some pretty high-profile guys who have been well known to us for thefts from autos,” said VicPD Const. Mike Russell.

The three men have more than 100 combined property related convictions, he said.

Victoria also recorded 17-per-cent fewer stolen vehicles in the first six months of 2012, compared with January to June 2011.

Since the Bait Car program was introduced in 2003, stolen vehicles and thefts from vehicles have decreased by at least half throughout Capital Region municipalities.