In 2012, 77,939 vehicles were stolen in Canada and statistically only 50% will be recovered. That’s a massive number of vehicles to disappear from owners’ driveways, but where do they go and what do thieves do with them?
To answer our questions, we talked to Richard Dubin, vice-president of investigative services at the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Dubin has more than 30 years of experience in the field and was more than able to fill us in on the criminal vehicle trade.
This stolen Ford GT was broken up for parts and unceremoniously dumped. Many parts couldn’t be resold due to unique casting numbers.
Supplied, Autoweek
The Bureau publishes a yearly list of the most stolen cars in Canada and the list for 2013 can be found below. One of the questions that many want to know is why are these specific vehicles the most stolen? Let’s start with the Honda.
1. 2000 HONDA CIVIC SiR 2DR
2. 2006 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER SS 4DR 4WD SUV
3. 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE 4DR 4WD SUV
4. 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE 4DR 4WD SUV
5. 2006 FORD F350 SD 4WD PU
6. 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 4DR AWD SUV
7. 2006 ACURA RSX TYPE S 2DR 2D
8. 2007 FORD F250 SD 4WD PU
9. 2007 FORD F350 SD 4WD PU
10. 2003 ACURA RSX TYPE S 2DR 2D
2000 Honda Civic Si
Handout, Honda
The Honda SiR two-door is a perfect storm of things that car thieves like. It has decent performance, a strong market for parts and the 2000 model lacked an electronic immobilizer. “There’s lots of them on the road,” says Dubin, which makes them a popular choice for thieves to steal and then “part out.” Rather than being resold as a whole, these cars are usually stripped and the parts are sold individually to be harder to track. It’s sad, but car theft is a business and thieves will do what they can to maximize profit.
All vehicles sold in Canada since 2008 have an electronic immobilizer which is a huge deterrent to hotwiring a vehicle. Among others, the 2006 Trailblazer SS and 2002 Cadillac Escalade lack this feature. It’s no coincidence that all the vehicles on the top 10 list are pre-2008.
But seven out of 10 vehicles on the list are full-size 4WD SUVs and trucks, and that reflects a larger shift in which stolen vehicles are in demand. According to Dubin, this represents members of organized crime’s demands to have upscale 4WD vehicles. The most wanted vehicles include Escalades, Touregs, and Range Rovers.
Cadillac Escalade EXT.
Handout, GM
The majority of these high-end SUVs are exported through Canadian ports to shady buyers in Western Africa. These vehicles’ upscale look and 4WD capability make them a favourite for buyers there. Since 2009, $50,000,000 worth of stolen vehicles have been seized by authorities from the Port of Halifax and Port of Montreal. Many of these vehicles were headed to places like Nigeria.
The Ford Super Duty (F-250 and F-350) is easily the most stolen model in Canada. In Alberta, the Super Duty makes up a staggering nine places out of ten on the most stolen vehicles list. It’s in such high demand that Dubin says many Super Dutys are being stolen from as far as Quebec to be sold in Alberta to unsuspecting customers with a fraudulent VIN. Unlike the Civic, most of these Fords are resold whole rather than parted out.
2006 Ford Super Duty F-250
Handout, Ford
So are the most stolen vehicles in Canada the easiest to steal? Not necessarily.
“If organized crime wants (these vehicles) then they’re going to get them,” says Dubin. “They have a shopping list.”
So what trends are forming in Canadian vehicle theft? Well overall thefts are going down in Canada and 2012 saw a decrease of 4,521 vehicles stolen from the previous year. Unfortunately, while fewer cars are being stolen, thieves are targeting more expensive cars and, according to Dubin, “the cost of auto theft could very well be higher than previous years.”
Dubin states that 20% of car thefts occur when the engine is running without an occupant in the vehicle. Many Canadian drivers like to idle cold vehicles on frosty mornings to warm up but this process facilitates easy theft. If you own a Ford Super Duty or Escalade, you might be better off driving away without a warm up.
