Toronto, Ontario — The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has released its list of the top 10 stolen vehicles in the country in an effort to raise awareness of the amount of vehicle-related crimes that occur as well as ways to prevent them.
IBC’s TOP 10 STOLEN VEHICLES IN CANADA:
- Ford 350SD AWD 2007
- Ford 350SD AWD 2006
- Ford 350SD AWD 2005
- Ford 350SD AWD 2004
- Ford 250SD AWD 2006
- Ford 350SD AWD 2003
- Lexus RX350/RX350L/RX450h/RX450hL 4DR AWD 2018
- Ford F250 SD 4WD 2005
- Ford F350 SD 4AWD 2002
- Honda Civic Si 2DR Coupe 1998
It is not difficult to notice the trend—IBC said the reason behind Ford’s large representation on the list is due to the stolen models’ lack of ignition immobilizers, which help prevent vehicles from being hot-wired. Though older models make up the majority of the top 10 list, IBC warns newer vehicle owners as well.
“Electronic auto theft is on the rise across the country as more vehicles are equipped with technology like keyless entry fobs,” said Bryan Gast, the national director of investigative services for IBC. “Regardless of how a vehicle is stolen, auto theft is a serious threat to public safety and continues to cost all Canadians.”
According to IBC, auto theft costs Canadians $1 billion every year, including $542 million for insurers to fix or replace stolen vehicles. The company calls the issue an “expensive social menace.”
IBC provided reasons criminals may target a vehicle as well as tips for motorists on how to prevent auto theft from occurring, such as installing immobilizing devices to counteract hot-wiring. The company also shared habits to help make vehicles more difficult targets, such as never leaving a vehicle running when unattended or purchasing a steering wheel or brake pedal lock. As for keyless entry fobs, IBC recommends storing them when unused in a protective box or bag that blocks their transmission to prevent thieves from intercepting the signal.
To read the full report, visit IBC’s auto theft page on its site.
