Police driving down B.C. car thefts

New automobile theft statistics show that the number of stolen cars and trucks in B.C. continues to decline rapidly, as police continue to expand their anti-theft program.

There were 9,000 vehicles stolen in B.C. in 2010, down 22 per cent from 2009.

The 2010 stats are down 65 per cent from those in 2003, when the Lower Mainland was known as Canada's car-theft capital.

Theft from inside vehicles has also dropped dramatically.

Police are crediting their bait-car technology for the progress made on both fronts.

Bait cars are equipped with hidden GPS and recording devices, which help investigators quickly catch car thieves or people who break into vehicles to steal contents.

Police unveiled a new anti-theft tool Thursday — a bait trailer.

About 500 trailers are stolen in B.C. every year, mostly the utility trailers used by construction companies and mechanics.

There is a big market for used trailers, said RCMP Sgt. Gord Elias.

"If the price is too good to be true, it's probably stolen," Elias said.

Elias said prospective purchasers should check for the vehicle identification number before buying a used trailer and call police if they are at all suspicious about the sale.

"If the public just takes these few simple precautions, it's going to drive the market down for stolen trailers," he said.