Top 10 Cars Stolen – is yours on the list?

Did you know a car is stolen every three and a half minutes in Canada? Although the rate of auto theft has decreased over the years, many Canadians still fall victim to this crime every day.   Each year the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) publishes an annual list of the top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles in Canada.

For a second consecutive year, the 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2DR is the number one most frequently stolen vehicle in Canada. A common vehicle, thieves target the Civic for parts and reselling them to often-unknowing businesses. Check the rankings to see if your car is on the top of IBC’s lists.

In both Alberta and Ontario, larger vehicles in the truck and SUV categories represent another significant target for thieves:

Alberta: 

Rank	Year	Model
1.	2007	FORD F250 SD 4WD
2.	2006	FORD F350 SD 4WD
3.	2007	FORD F350 SD 4WD
4.	2005	FORD F350 SD 4WD
5.	2000	HONDA CIVIC SiR 2DR
6.	2005	FORD F250 SD 4WD
7.	2004	FORD F350 SD 4WD
8.	2004	FORD F250 SD 4WD
9.	2003	FORD F350 SD 4WD
10.	2006	FORD F250 SD 4WD

Source: IBC – http://www.ibc.ca/on/auto/theft/top-ten-stolen-cars

Ontario:

In Ontario, both larger trucks and SUVs represent a large share of the list.

Rank	Year	Model
1.	2005	CADILLAC ESCALADE 4DR 4WD
2.	2002	CADILLAC ESCALADE 4DR 4WD
3.	2003	ACURA RSX TYPE S 2DR
4.	2000	HONDA CIVIC SiR 2DR
5.	2003	CADILLAC ESCALADE 4DR 4WD
6.	2004	CADILLAC ESCALADE 4DR 4WD
7.	2006	HUMMER H2 4DR AWD
8.	2010	TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4DR 4WD
9.	2005	CHEV/GMC TAHOE/YUKON 4DR 4WD
10.	2002	ACURA RSX TYPE S 2DR

Source: IBC – http://www.ibc.ca/on/auto/theft/top-ten-stolen-cars

Unlike the top-targeted Honda Civic, Four- and All-wheel drive vehicles such as the Ford F-250 and -350 lines of trucks, and the Cadillac Escalade, are more expensive vehicles targeted for resale to unaware customers. Those who buy a stolen car are at risk for a substantial financial loss as there is no way to recover back the money. As thieves will even fraudulently alter the VIN (vehicle Identification Number), it’s a good idea if buying a used car privately to check the Canadian Police Information Centre’s national database (link: http://www.cpic-cipc.ca/index-eng.htm) to see if that vehicle has been reported as stolen.

No one wants to face the possibility of their car being stolen, but here are some steps you can take to prevent your car ending up in thieves’ hands:

Protection is every bit as important as prevention, so if you have any questions or concerns about what is covered under your existing auto insurance policy, call your BrokerLink Brokertoday.