With rise in auto theft in Manitoba, it was noticed that the province of Winnipeg is one of the major targets among thieves. Then came the Winnipeg Auto Theft Suppression Strategy program (WATSS) in 2008. The committee continued to monitor youth most likely to commit auto theft. In this survey, average of 141 youth was monitored. Out of 141 youth, 121 were classed as Level 4 repeat offenders. The committee contacted these Level 4 offenders up to 11 times per week, with the highest risk group averaging 14 contacts per week throughout the year.

There has been a rapid rise in auto theft over the last two decades. Records show that in 2007, around 20 vehicles were stolen every day in Manitoba and more than 80 per cent of them were in Winnipeg. Because of these thefts Manitobans faced monetary as well as human loss. In 2006, thefts and attempted thefts cost Manitobans over $46 million in insurance claims and that adds about five per cent to everyone’s annual Autopac premium. In these theft-related crashes on an average three people are killed and 76 people are injured every year.