A sporty Honda Civic continues to lead a list of Canada's most-stolen cars, but the rest of the top-ten is filled with expensive SUVs their drivers will likely never see again.
In its list released Thursday, the Insurance Bureau of Canada says the top ten stolen vehicles in Canada are:
- '00 Honda Civic SiR 2-dr
- '99 Honda Civic SiR 2-dr
- '02 Cadillac Escalade 4-dr 4WD
- '04 Cadillac Escalade 4-dr 4WD
- '05 Acura RSX Type S 2-dr
- '97 Acura Integra 2-dr
- '00 Audi S4 Quattro 4-dr
- '03 Hummer H2 4-dr AWD
- '06 Acura RSX Type S 2-dr
- '04 Hummer H2 4-dr AWD
According to the IBC, which compiles and releases similar lists each year, the preponderance of high-end four-wheel drive vehicles points to the involvement of "sophisticated, organized crime rings".
In an interview with CTV's Canada AM, IBC vice-president of investigative services Rick Dubin said the list-topping Civic is proof a lot of cars are still stolen by joy-riders.
"Those vehicles are sporty with a lot of horsepower and heavy suspension," he said. "Unfortunately those cars are taken for transportation theft."
But the rest of the list points to organized crime rings, Dubin said, explaining that the majority of those vehicles are never found. Instead, they wind up stripped for parts, re-sold to unsuspecting consumers, or exported to countries where rugged, upscale vehicles are in high demand.
And it doesn't take long for your wheels to disappear. Drivers who have locked their keys in the car might be surprised to learn that a thief can make off with it in as little as 30 seconds.
Dubin recommends drivers take a few simple precautions to insure their car doesn't disappear:
- don't leave your vehicle running unattended
- never leave valuables in plain view
- don't store the vehicle registration and insurance papers in the glovebox
- park in a well-lit, busy area or a locked garage if possible
The IBC compiles its list based on insurance claims information from companies across the country.
