Nearly 2,000 vehicles stolen in RCMP territory in N.B. in 2024
CBC
Moncton car dealer Kevin Campbell has lost hope of ever getting his stolen 1991 Chevy truck back.
It took two people less than three minutes to drive the truck off of Campbell's dealership lot on Moncton's Salisbury Road in mid-November.
The 1991 Chevrolet C1500 SS 454, listed for more than $28,000, has not been recovered despite several efforts by Campbell.
His is just one example among the 1,888 vehicles that were stolen as of Tuesday in New Brunswick in 2024 — excluding Saint John and Fredericton which have their own police forces and statistics — according to the New Brunswick RCMP's year-to-date occurrence data.
Of that number, 576 vehicles — or 30 per cent — were stolen in Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview alone.
Campbell said it's "very disappointing, disheartening."
"You feel violated. You work so hard in business and in life to obtain the things you have and for somebody just to walk into your life on your property and just take it from you is just so violating."
Campbell's property is equipped with an AI-based security system. The cameras track movement, flash red and blue lights, and sound an alarm. The system also allows a security guard to talk to trespassers. He said he's spent more than $10,000 on it, but it still didn't stop the truck theft.
He said he's now looking to invest in tracking devices for his vehicles and fences for his parking lot, since potential thieves have not left him alone after stealing his truck.
"I had two more individuals masked on my property late at night and behind my building being dropped off — my security system picked them up, the lights went off and it did deter them and they left," said Campbell.
"I've had homeless people since then ... that are looking through my vehicles if there's anything to be stolen. So yeah, this problem has not gone away for me and to be quite frank, it makes you question if you even want to be in business."
Campbell said he understands that the police are working hard to stop these crimes, but he wants to see stricter punishment from all three levels of government to curb car thefts.
He said he is trying to take a layered approach to protect his vehicles but it's becoming too expensive for his small business.
According to the RCMP annual report, there were 1,610 motor vehicle thefts in 2023, which means thefts increased in 2024 by 17 per cent — and counting, since the report still has to be updated from Tuesday.
WARNING: This article contains graphic content and disturbing images.
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