Insurance Bureau: Auto theft in Canada still on the up

Annual Insurance Bureau report reveals which vehicles are most commonly stolen

Insurance News

By Lucy Hook

The rate of auto thefts in Canada is on the increase for the second year in a row, a new report from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has revealed.

“After large declines in auto theft activity over the last decade, the number of stolen vehicles has gone up 6% from last year, to 78,849 across Canada,” Garry Robertson, national director, investigative services at the Bureau, said in a statement.

The report, which IBC has published annually since 2003, found that the biggest increases in thefts were in Alberta – where stolen vehicle numbers are up 32% – and in Prince Edward Island – where they are up 19%.

The results, which include a list of the top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles, show that criminals tend to steal all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, older, high-end vehicles.

IBC urged car-owners to be vigilant about deterring thieves amid a rise in thefts.

“If you have gone to the trouble of buying a car that has a theft deterrent system that makes stealing it tougher, don’t make it easy for thieves by leaving the keys in the car,” Robertson advised, adding that vehicles left running unattended are not only easy to steal, but have increased value as a stolen item as they come with the keys.

The ten vehicle types most commonly stolen across the country are:
  1. 2007 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
  2. 2006 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
  3. 2005 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
  4. 2004 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
  5. 2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
  6. 2015 Toyota 4Runner 4-door 4WD SUV
  7. 2003 Cadillac Escalade 4-door 4WD SUV
  8. 2002 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
  9. 2006 Ford F-250 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
  10. 2010 Acura ZDX 4-door AWD SUV


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