A non-profit organization dedicated to combating insurance crime, Équité Association, has disclosed the Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Canada for the year 2022. Notably, the Honda CR-V secured the top spot for the second consecutive year.
The report highlights a concerning trend, with nine out of the 10 most stolen vehicles being model years 2019 or newer. Criminals are strategically targeting newer vehicles to maximize profits, either by selling them overseas or by re-VINing them to deceive unsuspecting Canadian buyers.
We know in Toronto, that high-end vehicle theft continues to spike in the city with no end in sight. It’s gotten so out of control that some GTA municipalities are giving away faraday pouches to protect vehicle fobs from being hacked.
Auto thefts in 2022 have surged to historical highs, particularly in Ontario with a 48 per cent increase. This surge has drawn international attention, portraying Canada as a significant source country for illegal trade. Stolen vehicles are being exploited by both domestic and international criminal organizations, with the proceeds contributing to domestic drug trafficking and international terrorism.
“On behalf of our insurance industry members, we will continue to provide information and recommendations to curb the rising trends in auto theft and keep Canadians safe from the impact of organized crime,” said Terri O’Brien, president & CEO of Équité Association. “This problem will not be fixed in isolation; we need meaningful change and collaborative solutions adopted by auto manufacturers, all levels of government, and law enforcement.”
To provide additional context to the escalating auto theft trend in Canada, Équité has introduced two new lists: Top 10 Least Stolen Vehicles in Canada and Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Canada – Theft Frequency. These lists are designed to provide insights into the frequency of theft relative to the number of insured vehicles for each make and model.
The least stolen vehicle is actually an electric car, the Chevy Volt. One of a few electric and hybrid cars on the least stolen list.
Bryan Gast, VP of investigative services at Équité Association, said that organized crime continues to view Canada as a lucrative source nation for stolen vehicles due to the high financial reward and low risk of prosecution.
For Torontonians thinking about purchasing a new vehicle, consider consulting the Most Stolen Vehicles list and checking with your insurer to assess the theft risk associated with a specific vehicle. Additionally, consider investments in vehicle immobilizers or other theft deterrent methods as long as they don’t void the manufacturer’s warranty.
Toronto Police Service is making some headway. Recently, TPS revealed the outcome of an 11-month investigation into vehicle and catalytic converter thefts in the Greater Toronto Area. The probe resulted in the recovery of 1,080 vehicles valued at approximately $60 million. Furthermore, law enforcement has laid 553 charges against 228 individuals. It was disclosed that thefts in the region have doubled since 2019.
For access to the full lists, interested parties can visit Équité’s website: https://www.equiteassociation.com/top-10-most-stolen-vehicles.