Top 10 Most Stolen Cars – 2010

IBC releases annual list of top 10 stolen vehicles – Insurers continue the
fight against auto theft

December 16, 2010

Toronto, ON – December 16, 2010 – Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) released
its annual list of the most frequently stolen vehicles today. Again in 2010, the
appearance of high-value, all-wheel/four-wheel drive models on the list
demonstrates that sophisticated, organized crime rings are involved. These types
of vehicles are frequently targeted by criminal organizations that strip them
for parts, re-sell them to unsuspecting consumers or export them to countries
where there is a high demand for upscale vehicles that can handle rugged
terrain.

Last month the federal government passed Bill S-9, Tackling Auto Theft and
Property Obtained by Crime Act, which gives Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
the authority to seize stolen vehicles intended for export.

The top 10 stolen vehicles in Canada are:

  1. 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
  2. 1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
  3. 2002 Cadillac Escalade 4-door 4WD
  4. 2004 Cadillac Escalade 4-door 4WD
  5. 2005 Acura RSX Type S 2-door
  6. 1997 Acura Integra 2-door
  7. 2000 Audi S4 Quattro 4-door AWD
  8. 2003 Hummer H2 4-door AWD
  9. 2006 Acura RSX Type S 2-door
  10. 2004 Hummer H2 4-door AWD

“IBC congratulates the federal government for cracking down on organized
crime and auto theft for export, and for making the safety and security of
Canadians a priority,” said Rick Dubin, Vice-President, Investigative Services,
IBC. “IBC will continue to work vigorously with law enforcement and government
agencies across Canada to fight auto theft and recover stolen vehicles before
they leave the country.”

Bill S-9 makes changes to the Criminal Code, including: making a separate
offence for motor vehicle theft supported by tough sentences, creating the
offence of altering, destroying or removing a vehicle identification number
(VIN), and creating the offences of trafficking property obtained by crime and
possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of trafficking.

IBC in partnership with CBSA and local law enforcement agencies located at
the ports of Montreal and Halifax have seized 600 stolen vehicles worth $18
million this year to date. Including vehicles that were repatriated from
overseas and those recovered using licence-plate reader technology, the value of
stolen vehicles recovered by IBC in 2010 jumps to $30.7 million. IBC will be
arguing for the expansion of the ports program to the port of Vancouver for
2011.

Auto theft by the numbers:

  • According to Statistics Canada, 108,172 vehicles were stolen in Canada in
    2009, a drop of 15% from 2008.
  • In 2009, auto theft cost Canadian insurers $419 million; when one adds
    emergency response, court, policing, legal and out-of-pocket expenses, such as
    deductibles, the total cost of auto theft each year in Canada approaches $1
    billion.

“In addition to sophisticated crime rings that operate as businesses,
transportation theft (or so-called ‘joy riding’) still exists,” added Dubin.
“This type of theft is committed by someone just looking for a car that’s easy
to steal, which can be used for transportation or to commit other crimes. The
difference is that cars stolen for these purposes are often abandoned and found.
Cars stolen by organized crime rings disappear.”

A professional thief can steal a car in about 30 seconds, even without a key.
Eight out of ten of the vehicles on Canada’s most frequently stolen list do not
have an approved electronic immobilizer, which prevents thieves from starting a
vehicle without the key. Some things drivers can do to help protect their
vehicle include:

  • Roll up car windows, lock the doors and pocket the key.
  • Keep the vehicle registration certificate and proof of insurance in a purse
    or wallet at all times – not in the glovebox.
  • Never leave valuable objects or packages in full view. Put them in the
    trunk.
  • Never leave a vehicle running unattended when getting a coffee or when the
    vehicle is warming up on the driveway. Approximately 20% of stolen cars have
    keys in them.
  • Always park in a well-lit and busy area.
  • At home, park in a garage if available and lock both the garage and car
    doors.

The above data regarding stolen vehicles is based on actual insurance claims
information collected from companies that write almost all automobile insurance
in Canada. This data can be found in the 2010 release of IBC’s “How Cars Measure
Up,” which compares the insurance claims records of the most popular vehicle
models across the country. It also lists the best and worst models according to
claims made for collisions and theft. Consumers can look up the information they
need before they buy a new or used car. “How Cars Measure Up” is designed to
help consumers understand how theft, collision and other claims costs affect
insurance premiums. For more information, visit IBC’s website at www.ibc.ca and
click on “How Cars Measure Up” under Popular links.