Atlantic Canadians who own a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado may want to keep a closer eye on it these days.
That vehicle and the 2017 GMC Sierra were the most stolen vehicle in Atlantic Canada, according to the 2020 Insurance Bureau of Canada's top-10 most stolen vehicles report released recently. In fact, the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra were the top vehicles stolen in each of the four Atlantic Canadian provinces.
Nationally, the vehicle that was snatched most often was the 2018 Honda CRV.
"Right now, we're seeing one vehicle stolen every six minutes in Canada," said Bryan Gast, the national director of investigative services at IBC and a former member of the Ontario Provincial Police and Brantford Police Service.
He said that one of the more troubling and growing trends is the number of thefts that used electronic devices to bypass a newer vehicle's security system.
"I think technology will continue to advance. The auto makers are obviously trying to find solutions. And the auto thieves, they're sophisticated as well, and they're also looking for advancements in technology."
Gast said that a thief with the right equipment can stand near a vehicle owner's residence and trigger and capture the radio frequency from a remote keyless electronic device (or fob) hanging inside and use that to access and steal a vehicle. The IBC recommends storing remote keyless devices in a box or bag that bocks the radio frequency identification signal. The signal can also be intercepted if a thief is in a parking lot and a driver electronically unlocks the vehicle's doors from a distance.
"Right now, we're seeing one vehicle stolen every six minutes in Canada."
- Bryan Gast
Even so, Gast notes that vehicles are still being stolen by owners or drivers who leave them running unattended, such as at a store or even in the driveway on a cold day, and with keys being left inside an unlocked vehicle under the visor or in the ignition.
"Sometimes we make it way too easy for the criminals by just leaving the vehicle running with the keys in it," he said.
The majority of vehicles stolen in Canada were either SUVs or large trucks, while in Atlantic Canada the majority were large trucks but with a few regular sized cars included in the top-10, such as the Chevrolet Cruze and Honda Civic.
Some of the other things vehicle owners can do to help prevent theft is to park in an area with good lighting and invest in brake and steering locks, a kill switch, GPS for tracking and an alarm system.
According to the IBC, motor vehicle theft costs Canadians close to $1 billion a year, which includes $542 million for insurance companies to fix or replace a stolen vehicle as well as $250 million or more in costs for police, corrections, health care and the courts.
Gast explained that stolen vehicles can be exported overseas through Canadian ports, used in illegal street racing or to commit other crimes or sold to fund organized crime. Stolen vehicles can also be resold domestically to unsuspecting buyers in cases when the vehicle identification number (VIN) is replaced with a fraudulent one.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, auto and business insurers.
P.E.I. thefts
Here are the 2020 top 10 stolen vehicles in P.E.I.:
- 2017 CHEVROLET SILVERADO/GMC SIERRA 1500
- 2018 FORD F150
- 2014 DODGE RAM 1500
- 2016 FORD F150
- 2011 DODGE RAM 1500
- 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO/GMC SIERRA 1500
- 2011 FORD F150
- 2015 HONDA CIVIC
- 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE
- 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO/GMC SIERRA 1500
Here are the 2015 top 10 stolen vehicles in P.E.I.:
- 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WAGON
- 1998 DODGE/PLYMOUTH NEON
- 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX5
- 2003 DODGE DURANGO
- 1998 TOYOTA RAV4
- 2004 CHEV/GMC/OLDS BLAZER/JIMMY/BRAVADA S SERIES
- 2005 FORD F350
- 2004 ACURA TSX
- 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
- 2010 HONDA CIVIC Si COUPE
Across the country
Here are the 2020 top 10 stolen vehicles in Canada:
- 2018 HONDA CR-V
- 2017 LEXUS RX350, 450 series
- 2017 HONDA CR-V
- 2018 LEXUS RX350 and 450 series
- 2018 FORD F150
- 2019 HONDA CR-V
- 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
- 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
- 2019 LEXUS RX350 and 450 series
- 2017 DODGE RAM 1500
Here are the 2020 top 10 stolen vehicles in Atlantic Canada:
- 2017 CHEVROLET SILVERADO/GMC SIERRA 1500
- 2018 FORD F150
- 2014 DODGE RAM 1500
- 2016 FORD F150
- 2011 DODGE RAM 1500
- 2011 FORD F150
- 2015 HONDA CIVIC
- 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO/GMC SIERRA 1500
- 2012 DODGE RAM 1500
- 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE
Terrence McEachern is the busines reporter for The Guardian.
