Auto thieves in Ontario go big, theft increases by 1%: IBC releases 2017 Top 10 stolen vehicles list

"Between 2015 and 2016, Ontario has seen an overall increase of 1% in auto theft, with considerable variations and fluctuations right across the province." said Kim Donaldson, Vice-President, Ontario, IBC. "Many of the high-end vehicles that are stolen in this province will end up in overseas markets or in chop shops where they will be scrapped for parts." 

Ontario Top 10 Most Frequently Stolen Vehicles List

This year's 10 most frequently stolen vehicles in IBC's Ontario region are:

1. 2016 Toyota 4Runner 4-door 4WD SUV
2. 2015 Toyota 4Runner 4-door 4WD SUV
3. 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD and GMC Yukon 4WD SUVs
4. 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 2WD Pick-Up
5. 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD and GMC Yukon 4WD SUVs
6. 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4WD and GMC Sierra 2500 4WD SUVs
7. 2003 Hummer H2 4-door 4WD SUV
8. 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe 4-door 4WD and GMC Yukon 4-door 4WD SUVs
9. 2014 Toyota 4-Runner 4-door 4WD SUV
10. 2005 Buick Rainier 4-door 2WD, Chevrolet Trailblazer 4-door 2WD and GMC Envoy SUVs

• For regional and national figures in 2017 and previous years, visit Top 10 Stolen Vehicles

Quoting Statistics Canada as the IBC source, Donaldson noted that Guelph, Ontario reported the largest auto theft activity increase in Canada at 49%. Windsor reported a 14% increase and St. Catharines experienced a 5% increase. Of Ontario's two largest cities, Toronto reported a 4% increase while Ottawa experienced a 1% decline. Theft was also down 17% in Sudbury, 12% in Barrie and London, 9% in Kingston, and 1% in Peterborough and Hamilton. In Ontario, the rate of recovery for stolen vehicles increased to 60%, up 2 per cent from last year.

Keep your vehicle safe

Cars are stolen for a number of reasons. Stolen vehicles may be shipped overseas, where they are either sold to consumers who don't know they are buying a stolen car; chopped for parts; or used to commit another crime.

"It takes less than a minute for a car thief to steal your vehicle.  If you've gone to the trouble of buying a car that has a theft deterrent system, don't make it easy for thieves by leaving the keys in the car," added Donaldson. 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.

For more information on the Top 10 Most Frequently Stolen Vehicles in other regions, visit IBC's National, Western and Quebec websites.