The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has released its annual top 10 list of stolen vehicles in Canada, with the 2018 Honda CR-V 4DR AWD in first position with 350 counts of theft, followed by the 2017 Lexus RX 350/RX 450h 4DR AWD with 258 counts.
The company’s news release indicates that electronic auto theft is on the rise across the country, due to an increase in vehicles featuring technology like keyless entry remotes. As a result many high-end SUVs are stolen for export, while other stolen vehicles are being given false vehicle identification numbers and sold to consumers.
“Thieves have many motives. This year’s top 10 list confirms some key trends in auto theft that we are now seeing,” said Bryan Gast, National Director, Investigative Services, IBC. “Regardless of how a vehicle is stolen, auto theft is a serious threat to public safety and continues to cost all Canadians.”
Another trend that IBC is seeing, particularly amid the pandemic is dangerous activities such as street racing and illegal gatherings for drifting events. These types of events provide a market for stolen vehicles.
Some of the most stolen vehicles in Ontario for 2020 are the: 2017 Lexus RX 350/RX 450h 4DR AWD with 211 counts, followed by the 2018 Lexus RX 350/RX 350L/RX 450h/RX450 hl 4DR AWD with 163 counts. The 2018 Honda CR-V 4DR AWD was stolen 153 times, and the 2018 Toyota Highlander 4DR 4WD 118 times.
In Alberta, some of the most stolen vehicles include the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 Ford F-350 SD 4WD with 60, 59, 95, and 67 counts respectively. The Dodge RAM 1500 4WD was also on the list.
In Atlantic Canada, some of the most stolen vehicles include the 2017 Chevrolet/GMC Silverado/Sierra 1500 4WD (14 counts), Ford F-150 4WD (11 counts), and the 2014 Dodge RAM 1500 4WD (10 counts).
