It's hard to stop a thief who really wants to steal your car. But knowing which vehicles thieves target gives you, the motorist, a crucial advantage.
Having your car stolen is like getting mugged: non-fatal, yes, but extremely unpleasant. And while both are unfortunate facts of life in big cities, it's easier than you think to protect yourself.
When shopping for a new or used car in Canada, make this your first question: What were the top 10 vehicles stolen last year? According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), these were Canada's most stolen vehicles in 2010:
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
In November 2010, the Canadian government passed Bill S-9 - the Tackling Auto Theft and Property Obtained by Crime Act - giving Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) the authority to seize stolen vehicles intended for export. Auto theft is a huge reason auto-insurance rates continue to climb annually across Canada.
"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 IBC Vice President of Investigative Services Rick Dubin. "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 updates the Criminal Code, making motor vehicle theft a separate offence; creating the offence of altering, destroying, or removing a automobile's 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.
Auto theft by the numbers:
• According to Statistics Canada, 108,172 vehicles were stolen in Canada in 2009, a drop of 15 per cent from 2008.
• In 2009, auto theft cost Canadian insurers $419 million. If you add 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.
A professional auto thief without a key needs about 30 seconds to steal your car or truck, although an electronic immobilizer, which requires unlocking, makes it more difficult. The IBC has a few suggestions for thwarting thieves intent on stealing your vehicle.
• Roll up car windows, lock the doors, and pocket the key.
• Keep your vehicle registration and proof of insurance in a purse or wallet at all times - not in the glove box.
• Never leave valuable objects or packages in plain view. Put them in the trunk.
• Never leave a vehicle running unattended - when you're getting a coffee, say, or warming it up on the driveway. Some 20 per cent of cars are stolen with keys in them.
• Always park in a well-lit and busy area.
• At home, park in a garage, if available, and lock the garage and car doors.
Let's face it; if a thief wants to steal your vehicle, he's likely to be successful. But knowing how to protect your rolling investment - and understanding which vehicles thieves like to target - will help your cause. No vehicle, no matter the age or desirability, is completely safe. But preventing auto theft is like preventing personal theft. A little planning goes a long way.
When shopping for a new or used car in Canada, make this your first question: What were the top 10 vehicles stolen last year? According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), these were Canada's most stolen vehicles in 2010:
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
In November 2010, the Canadian government passed Bill S-9 - the Tackling Auto Theft and Property Obtained by Crime Act - giving Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) the authority to seize stolen vehicles intended for export. Auto theft is a huge reason auto-insurance rates continue to climb annually across Canada.
"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 IBC Vice President of Investigative Services Rick Dubin. "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 updates the Criminal Code, making motor vehicle theft a separate offence; creating the offence of altering, destroying, or removing a automobile's 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.
Auto theft by the numbers:
• According to Statistics Canada, 108,172 vehicles were stolen in Canada in 2009, a drop of 15 per cent from 2008.
• In 2009, auto theft cost Canadian insurers $419 million. If you add 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.
A professional auto thief without a key needs about 30 seconds to steal your car or truck, although an electronic immobilizer, which requires unlocking, makes it more difficult. The IBC has a few suggestions for thwarting thieves intent on stealing your vehicle.
• Roll up car windows, lock the doors, and pocket the key.
• Keep your vehicle registration and proof of insurance in a purse or wallet at all times - not in the glove box.
• Never leave valuable objects or packages in plain view. Put them in the trunk.
• Never leave a vehicle running unattended - when you're getting a coffee, say, or warming it up on the driveway. Some 20 per cent of cars are stolen with keys in them.
• Always park in a well-lit and busy area.
• At home, park in a garage, if available, and lock the garage and car doors.
Let's face it; if a thief wants to steal your vehicle, he's likely to be successful. But knowing how to protect your rolling investment - and understanding which vehicles thieves like to target - will help your cause. No vehicle, no matter the age or desirability, is completely safe. But preventing auto theft is like preventing personal theft. A little planning goes a long way.
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