IBC publishes 2017 Top 10 stolen vehicles list

Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) today published its annual list of the Top 10 Most Frequently Stolen Vehicles. Once again, Ford trucks and high-priced SUVs feature prominently.

"Between 2015 and 2016, motor vehicle theft across Canada was down slightly to just over 78,000 cases," said Dan Service, Acting National Director, Investigative Services, IBC. "After two years of increased reports of auto theft, 2016 saw a 1% decline. The biggest increases were in Yukon where stolen vehicle numbers are up 22%, Nunavut where they are up 18%, and Saskatchewan where they are up 15%."

National Top 10 Most Frequently Stolen Vehicles List - This year's 10 most frequently stolen vehicles in Canada are:

1. 2015 Lexus GX460 4-Door AWD SUV
2. 2007 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
3. 2006 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
4. 2005 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
5. 2001 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
6. 2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
7. 2004 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
8. 2016 Toyota 4Runner 4-Door 4WD SUV
9. 2002 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
10. 2006 Ford F-250 Super Duty 4WD Pickup

"We see from this list that criminals continue to favour all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, older, high-end vehicles," Service added.
According to Statistics Canada, there were declines in motor vehicle theft in most major cities across the country. The largest decreases were in Gatineau, Trois-Rivières, and Sudbury. However, auto theft was up 49% in Guelph, Ontario and up by 17% in Regina and 16% in Saskatoon. And at 536 cases per 100,000 people, Alberta once again reported the highest rate of auto theft in Canada. Prince Edward Island reported the lowest rate of theft at 60 cases per 100,000 people. Nationally, the rate of recovery for stolen vehicles increased to 72%, up 1 per cent from last year.
IBC has also broken down auto theft statistics for various regions across Canada. For the regional breakdown of the Top 10 Most Frequently Stolen Vehicles, visit the websites for IBC's Ontario, Alberta and Quebec regions.

Keep your vehicle safe

Cars are stolen for a number of reasons. Stolen vehicles may be shipped overseas, where they are sold to consumers who don't know they are buying a stolen car; they are scrapped for parts; or they might be used to commit another crime.
IBC reminds you that it takes less than a minute for a car thief to steal your vehicle. Protect your vehicle by following these tips:

• Never leave your vehicle running when unattended.
• Park in well-lit areas.
• When parking your car, always close the windows and lock the doors.
• Put valuables and packages in the trunk, where they are out of sight.
• Keep your car in the garage at night.
• Don't leave personal information in the glove box. Take your insurance and ownership documents with you when you park your vehicle.

Report the crime

To report an insurance crime, call your local police, IBC at 1-877-IBC-TIPS or Crime Stoppers at 1 800-222-TIPS. For more information about auto theft, visit www.ibc.ca.