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Media Release - TOP TEN MOST STOLEN CARS
IBC Releases Annual List of Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Canada - Organized criminals find local market for popular pickup truck
Toronto, ON – December 13, 2012 –Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) released today its annual list of the top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles in Canada. This year there is a new, but returning, hot target for thieves – the 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2DR. In fact Civics take up the top two places in this year’s list. Civics have always been high on the list. It’s a popular vehicle for young people and many of them are stolen and chopped for parts.
The Civic replaces the 2009 Toyota Venza 4-door, which was last year’s number one most frequently stolen vehicle nationally but is the second most stolen vehicle in Quebec. But more than the change of the top target, investigators are seeing new trends and have more warnings for unsuspecting victims.
The top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles in Canada are:
- 2000 HONDA CIVIC SiR 2DR
- 1999 HONDA CIVIC SiR 2DR
- 2006 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER SS 4DR 4WD
- 2007 FORD F350 SD 4WD PU
- 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE 4DR AWD
- 2006 FORD F350 SD 4WD PU
- 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE 4DR 4WD
- 2005 FORD F350 SD 4WD PU
- 2004 FORD F350 SD 4WD PU
- 1999 ACURA INTEGRA 2DR
Auto Theft is Big Business
Seven of the top 10 are 4 wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles, including four Ford F350 trucks.
“We are never surprised to see a lot of all-terrain vehicles on the list,” says Rick Dubin, Vice-President, Investigative Services, IBC. “Many of these higher-end vehicles are targeted by organized crime for shipment overseas – to places like West Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, where there is a lucrative market for big, rugged vehicles.”
He adds: “A new trend this year, however, is that Alberta seems to be emerging as a secondary market for these vehicles. IBC investigations indicate that many of the Ford trucks are being re-VINed to be sold to unsuspecting victims in Western Canada. Organized crime rings are stealing the trucks in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, changing the vehicle identification numbers (VIN), and selling them in Alberta, where there is a high demand for them.”
Auto theft is big business in Canada. The good news is that in 2011 the number of stolen vehicles in the country was down 12%, to 82,411. The bad news is that recovery rates for stolen vehicles have been low, which indicates the involvement of organized criminals, who re-VIN cars for re-sale, or chop them for parts. This is a “Buyer Beware” situation where stolen vehicles and parts are sold over the Internet for prices that seem to be too good to be true.
“We’re fighting these sophisticated crime rings on several fronts,” says Dubin. “IBC works with Canada Border Services Agency to
For more information on auto theft visit
http://www.ibc.ca/en/Insurance_Crime/Auto_Theft/
Insurance Bureau of Canada
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ABOUT THE HUBBARD INSURANCE GROUP
Hubbard Insurance was founded in January 1987 by Dick Hubbard and is currently operated by his son’s John and Drew; a true Canadian family owned and operated business.
In February 2012, we were thrilled to announce the purchase of another broker’s book of business and enthusiastically welcomed Bob Behan, his team of staff and all of their clients from Oakridge Insurance in Mississauga to our group.
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