Do you drive a Honda CR-V?
Guard it carefully.
It continues to be the most stolen vehicle in Ontario. In fact, it is the most stolen across Canada.
Équité Association, an organization aimed at reducing crime and insurance fraud, has released its Top Ten list of stolen vehicles.
It says the overall auto theft rate in Ontario rose 48 per cent last year, with 2,684 CR-Vs among them.
Nine of the ten most stolen vehicles last year in Ontario were SUVs or pick-up trucks.
- Honda CR-V (2020), SUV, 2,684 thefts
- Lexus RX Series (2020), SUV, 1,707 thefts
- Dodge RAM 1500 Series (2022), Truck, 1,405 thefts
- Toyota Highlander (2021), SUV, 1,344 thefts
- Land Rover Range Rover (2020), SUV, 1,225 thefts
- Ford F150 Series (2020), SUV, 1,225 thefts
- Jeep Grand Cherokee (2021), SUV, 766 thefts
- Jeep Wrangler (2021), SUV, 689 thefts
- Honda Civic (2019), Sedan, 630 thefts
- Acura RDX (2021), SUV, 459 thefts
"Organized crime continues to look to Canada as a source nation for stolen vehicles where the financial reward is high and the risk of prosecution is low," said Équité Association.
Équité Association notes Canada’s private auto insurers paid out $1.2 billion in theft claims in 2022.
"At a time when inflation and affordability are putting excess strain on consumers, Canadians are paying more to cover the costs associated with auto theft – from law enforcement and court resources, the physical and emotional consequences, to the general economic costs."
Barrie Police Communications Coordinator, Peter Leon, says Barrie has not been immune to vehicle thefts, "Regrettably, we have seen, probably on average so far this year, just over one vehicle per day being stolen in the city. In the past week, we saw a bit of a trend where we had vehicles being stolen overnight while people slept. That still seems to be the most popular way of obtaining vehicles."
Leon says we can never afford to let down our guard.
"Make sure the vehicle is always locked no matter where you leave it, whether it's in the garage, underground, your driveway, first and foremost, make sure that the vehicle is locked. That's always step number one. The other thing you can do is put your keys in, if you have a key fob that opens your vehicle and starts it with a push button, in a Faraday-type pouch. That will block the radio frequency from the key fob from getting out and being cloned and could result in your vehicle being stolen."
You might also invest in a steering wheel locking device. Leon says he has also seen more and more people using locking boots on their wheels to prevent the vehicle from being moved.
The harder you make it to steal, the more likely a thief is to move on.
Leon says we haven't seen the violent carjackings that we've heard about in the GTA involving high-end motor vehicles. If someone makes a demand for your keys in a parking lot or at a traffic light, comply.
"Your safety is paramount. You can never do enough to keep yourself safe. If they want your car, give it to them. Your life is much more valuable than a vehicle that is insured, that is replaceable."
banner image: Équité Association
