The Insurance Bureau Of Canada released its' annual list of the most frequently stolen vehicles in 2017 and there are certain makes and models that tend to be the biggest targets, both nationally and provincially.
Nationally, the Ford F-350 is the most stolen vehicle across Canada, but along with the F-250, are also the most targeted vehicle in Alberta. In Ontario, thieves tend to go after high end SUVs and trucks, such as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban and Silverado.
The latter is also a huge target in the Atlantic provinces, only surpassed by the Nissan Maxima, while in Quebec it's the Acura MDX that takes top spot. Interestingly, the older models of these vehicles tend to be stolen, mostly because they lack the more sophisticated security devices of the newest lines of automobiles.
Still, newer vehicles that utilise a fob with push button starts are increasingly targeted, as the latest trend are suffering what is known as a "relay attack". Thieves use special devices to pick up and intercept the radio signal from a fob and then use it to open the doors and start a vehicle.
This type of theft is a new trend but ever increasing and the advice on avoiding being a victim is to use what is known as a Faraday sleeve or cover. This simple device basically blocks the the radio signals and prevents thieves from high jacking your car or truck.
But, thieves often don't even need to go to any great lengths to steal a vehicle. In Winter months, too many people start their vehicles to warm them up and leave them unattended, or leave them running as they pop in to a store, allowing any opportunistic thief to get in and drive away. In Alberta, 25% of all auto thefts happen when the keys are left in the vehicle.
Co-incidentally, Alberta does hold the distinction of having the most vehicle thefts in the entire country at 30%, though many provinces saw increases in their rates. In New Brunswick, the rise in auto thefts was a staggering 28% jump, with Ontario following at 15%.
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