Auto theft continues to be an issue in Canada, and car thieves have become much more technologically capable than before, a new report from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has found.
The bureau recently released its annual list of Canada’s most frequently stolen vehicles, which also tracks theft trends that consumers should be wary of.
According to the IBC, thieves are now increasingly reliant on technology to bypass the security systems of the latest automobiles.
“Electronic auto theft is on the rise across the country as more vehicles are equipped with technology like keyless entry fobs,” said IBC national director of investigative services Bryan Gast. “Regardless of how a vehicle is stolen, auto theft is a serious threat to public safety and continues to cost all Canadians.”
The top 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada, according to the IBC, are:
IBC noted that nine of the top 10 vehicles do not have ignition immobilizers, which are devices that prevent thieves from hotwiring a vehicle. It is this lack of an ignition immobilizer that IBC believes make this particular series of Ford trucks popular targets among car thieves.
The bureau said in its report that auto theft costs Canadians close to $1 billion each year. This includes $542 million spent by insurers to fix or replace the stolen vehicles; $250 million in police, healthcare and court systems costs; and millions more for correctional services.
Some of the vehicles are stolen to commit another crime, or to be used to go on “joyrides,” but IBC also noted in its report that many automobiles are stolen by organized crime groups, to be sold to unwitting consumers in Canada, shipped overseas, or stripped down for parts.
