Canadian auto thieves are refining their tastes, stealing more high-end vehicles, which demonstrates the increased presence of organized crime in the market.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) released its annual list last week showing Canada’s most commonly stolen cars and this year’s list is a mix of high-end vehicles and other cars that commonly rate at the top of the list.
Rick Dubin, vice president of investigation for IBC, said he was pleased to see overall thefts were down 15 per cent, but the trend towards SUVs is worrying.
“You are seeing the involvement of organized crime in stealing these high end vehicles.”
The top vehicle on the list using statistics from 2008 was the 2000 Honda Civic SiR two-door; the 1999 model of the vehicle came in at the number three spot. The second most-stolen vehicle was the 2003 Cadillac Escalade, while other models of that SUV were ranked fifth, sixth and 10th.
Dubin said while vehicles like the Civic might be stolen for transportation or joyriding, vehicles like the Escalade are being stolen for foreign markets.
“We estimate that 30,000 high-end vehicles are being exported overseas.”
Several of the other vehicles on the list as well as ones that didn’t make the cut were four-wheel drive SUVs. Dubin said that reflects the markets where they are headed.
He said most vehicles sent overseas are bound for countries in West Africa, the Middle East or Eastern Europe where they fetch a good price.
“They are selling for at least twice the value of what they would sell for in North America.
The IBC estimates when the cost of insurance claims, policing and the justice system are combined, the total cost of auto theft is over $1 billion.
Dubin said organized crime’s involvement in auto theft also leads to another problem — fewer of the vehicles are ever recovered.
Bill C-26, currently before the Senate, would turn auto theft into a standalone crime. Currently, auto theft has no separate standing under the law and is treated like any other theft. It would also create new crimes for tampering with vehicles’ identifications and selling stolen parts.
Top 10 most popular stolen cars
1. 2000 Honda Civic SiR two-door<br />2. 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV four-door <br />3. 1999 Honda Civic SiR two-door<br />4. 2006 GMC Trailblazer SS four-door <br />5. 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT four-door <br />6. 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV four-door <br />7. 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder two-door<br />8. 2000 Audi S4 Quattro four-door<br />9. 2006 Hummer H2 four-door <br />10. 2005 Cadillac Escalade four-door
