Auto Theft in Canada

Auto theft is a major crime in Canada. According to a recent study, Canada has 376 cases of auto theft per 100,000 people. The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates 20,000 stolen cars skip the country each year, that's approximately 30% - 40%. Approximately 30% of stolen cars are not found. However, theft rates in Canada have been declining since the mid-1990s. 125,000 reported cars were stolen in 2008; 145,000 were stolen in 2007; that is a change of 15%.Every province has had declining rates, ranging from 1% in Saskatchewan to 39% in Manitoba. Despite these large decreases in auto theft in Manitoba, it still has the highest auto theft rates in Canada; 81% of Manitoba's auto theft occurred in CMA of Winnipeg.
According to an unspecified study, the top ten cities home to the most auto theft in Canada are as follows:
1) Winnipeg MB
2) Abbotsford BC
3) Edmonton AB
4) Regina SK
5) Calgary AB
6) Vancouver BC
7) Saskatoon SK
8) Montreal QC
9) London ON
10) Hamilton ON
There are several reasons why thieves steal cars, but they're divided into two categories: amateur/occasional and professional. Amateur/occasional thieves steal for two reasons. They either steal for the joyride or for transportation. Youth who steal cars usually steal for the joyride. Those who steal for transportation may steal for long-term transportation or for long term transportation. Professional auto thieves steal for profit by the resale of the car or the chop shops where they would sell pieces of the car individually. Professional thieves also steal for the commission of another crime, such as robbery or theft. The top ten types of vehicles stolen according to a 2007 study are as follows:
1) 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
2) 1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
3) 2002 Cadillac Escalade 4-door 4WD
4) 2004 Cadillac Escalade 4-door 4WD
5) 2005 Acura RSX Type S 2-door
6) 1997 Acura Integra 2-door
7) 2000 Audi S4 Quattro 4-door 4WD
8) 2003 Hummer H2 4-door AWD
9) 2006 Acura RSX type S 2-door
10) 2004 Hummer H2 4-door AWD
Although auto theft is a major crime, it is usually simple to prevent. Simple ways to protect your car from being stolen are locking your car, parking in your garage, keep your keys out of your car (do NOT leave your keys inside your car; most cars are stolen with the keys IN them). Other ways of preventing your car from being stolen are using alarms, steering lock devices, immobilization devices, tracking devices, and reward offers/hotlines. Marking your car with a bumper sticker or decals also makes your car more noticeable and easier to find if stolen.
However, most devices do NOT reduce theft rates.

Sexual Assault

Men are taught at a young age to be masculine. They play with toy guns and army men at young ages. They are encouraged to establish a 'manly' appearance and not to show their sensitive feelings. This has been taught since the beginning of time but it seems as though it is getting more and more enforced because of the rising number of homosexual males. Some men may feel as though they need to convince others of their masculinity in order to be considered "normal." This may be alright for some men, but others may take it too far and feel as though they need to take advantage of women in order to establish that masculinity and power.

Men who commit sexual assaults are often seeking to be more masculine and powerful through their 'conquered' women. However, in actuality this means that they are insecure in their identity and need to achieve a horrific action to convince themselves and others of their masculinity. Men are naturally masculine due to hormones but these extremes are usually learned.  Men learn this behaviour from other men, fathers, older siblings, media, music, and pornography.  

A 27 year old man in Camrose Alberta was reported to have inappropriately touched a five-year old boy; it was later found that he also inappropriately touched a four-year old boy.  The man was living in the basement of the house the children lived in.  He was also reported to be an "uncle" to the kids.  He has now been charged with three accounts of sexual assault, sexual interference, and sexual exploitation.  What would encourage this man to sexual assault young boys?  The feeling of being powerless and the need to feel in control; he may also feel the need to boost his self image and self esteem.  The opportunity was most likely often available as well.

Mass and Serial Killers

One aspect of violent crime is murder. This includes serial and mass killers. Marc Lepine was a mass murder at the University of Montreal. At around 5:00 pm on December 6, 1989, he walked into the Ecole Polytechnique and stepped into a classroom. The male students and professors were ordered to leave the classroom while the ten women present were told to stand in a specified area. He then proceeded to tell the women that he was killing them because "I'm fighting feminism." He shot all ten women. He continued on a rampage all throughout the school, injuring or killing any women he could find, even shooting men who were standing with women. He killed a total of fourteen women and injured thirteen other students (men and women). By the time police had entered the building, Lepine was standing in front of a desk in a classroom, taking his own life with the same assault rifle he used to take so many others'. There are many reasons as to why Marc Lepine killed so many women. It all started when he was young, he was abused by his father and watched his mother be beaten by his father as well. Although Lepine hated his father, he still adapted his views on women. Lepine had continual setbacks in his early adult life and blamed all of his problems on women. Finally, when he was rejected into the Ecole Polytechnique he blamed woman and decided to make a statement. Lepine is the perfect example of what Jack Levin and James Alan Fox call a "revenge killer." A revenge mass murderer kills for revenge on a certain indivdual or group of individuals.

An example of a serial killer is Clifford Robert Olson. By the end of his career Olson will have killed a total of eleven children in British Columbia; He was also reported to continually pick up female hitchhikers.

After Olson had been charged with the first degree murder of Judy Kozma, he made a deal with the police.  If the RCMP gave Olson $100,000 then Olson would give them eleven bodies.  This deal is commonly known as the "Cash for Bodies Deal."  Through this deal the police were able to find evidence that Olson was indeed the killer of all these children.  Olson was inprisoned for life and never spent another day as a free man.  Clifford Olson is an example of Levin and Fox's 'Thrill Killer.'  These murders kill for the joy of seeing someone hurt or be in pain; they also murder for dominance.
Everyone can learn from people like Olson and Lepine.  Being aware of people like these can make you better prepared for preventing events like these.  Perhaps people should think twice before they hitchhike and get into a car with a complete stranger.  I don't think it is possible to stop people like this in Canada, or anywhere else in the world unless our justice system was x100 harsher.  But even still, if a killer really wants to kill, he probably will.  Being cautious of strangers and aware of these people can go a long way in keeping yourself safe.