Organized crime is using technology in a recent surge in vehicle thefts right across North America.

That’s according to the Canadian Finance and Leasing Association which calls vehicle theft a billion dollar a year crisis.

While President Michael Rothe says the biggest problem is in bigger urban centres like Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, it can still happen in places like Newfoundland and Labrador.

He says the surge in thefts is likely in relation to difficulties experienced in the supply chain in recent years leading to greater demand.

The RNC has long warned residents to keep their key fobs away from their front door. Rothe says that’s because criminals can actually drive through a neighborhood and pick up the signal from electronic key fobs.

He says push-start vehicles are now among the easiest to steal. He says your fob is continuously sending a signal, and thieves can use technology to pick that up and create their own fob. Meanwhile, in larger centres they’ve seen an increase in recent years of carjackings using violence.