Canadian Winter Tyre Thefts – the Work of Organised Crime?

The new law in Quebec, Canada making winter tyres mandatory on provincial roads may be the factor behind rising thefts of these products. Canadian broadcaster CTV reports that on the morning October 30, following the region’s first major snow of the season, a number of Montreal motorists awoke to find the winter tyres stolen from their vehicles.

“My son leaves for work at 5:30 a.m. When he came out, he found his car on blocks and all four of his brand-new winter tyres – and rims – gone. The only thing left (was) the bolts that held them,” said Serge Robillard, who lives north of Montreal. Police in this local area alone said they received three complaints of stolen tyres during the course of the morning and officers believe the thieves are well organised.

As early as September, many tyre retailers were reporting shortages and warning that there might not be enough tyres to go around when winter proper started.