Crooks Love a Civic: Model Takes #1 Spot on List of Most Stolen Cars in Canada
By: Lucy Zemljic on August 22, 2014
On Monday, the U.S. National Insurance Crime Bureau released its yearly list of top ten most stolen cars in the U.S.A. What does that have to do with Canada, you ask? As it turns out, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) releases its own top ten stolen vehicles report every year, and there’s some overlap between the two lists.
Many of the vehicles that cropped up might actually surprise you. In fact, the top spot is occupied by none other than the plain-Jane but much-loved Honda Civic. Canadians can’t get enough of the Japanese-made Civic, and as it turns out, neither can thieves.
To find out which other vehicles cropped up on the IBC’s list, and to check out its American counterpart, take a look at the countdowns below:
Canada | U.S.A |
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Honda Civic Chevrolet Trailblazer Ford F250
How Do the Lists Compare?
Looking at the side-by-side comparison above, it’s clear that thieves have a penchant for the Honda Civic and sturdy Ford pickup – no matter what side of the border they’re on. The Cadillac Escalade and the Acura RSX show up exclusively on the Canadian list, while Dodge and Toyota dominate the American list but don’t make an appearance on the Canadian one.
There seems to be an explanation for this, though – last year, the Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla were the 1st and 4th best-selling cars in the U.S., respectively. The best-sellers north of the border? The Honda Civic and the Ford F-Series of pickups. It looks like the discrepancies can be explained in part due to differences in sales numbers between the U.S. and Canada.
What Happens To All Those Stolen Cars?
According to Rick Dubin,Vice-President of Investigative Services at the IBC, criminals aren’t just picking cars randomly. These crooks are organized, and when they target all those Civics and Escalades, they have a plan in mind – dismantle them and export them in pieces. That way, they’re less likely to be detected. The parts get shipped as far away as West Africa, and are then reassembled and resold.
“Thieves consistently target the Honda Civic to chop for parts,” explains Dubin. “Those parts are easy to resell because there are so many Civics on the road.”
What You Can Do
There’s no need to lock up your beloved car forever though, because there are plenty of ways you can protect yourself and your vehicle from becoming a ride-robber’s next victim.
The IBC recommends following a few simple guidelines – here a few things to remember every time you get behind the wheel:
Don’t leave your vehicle running unattended. It takes a criminal about 30 seconds to steal a car – for goodness’ sake, don’t leave your keys in the ignition, even if it’s just for a few minutes. In the time it takes you to grab that Double Double, a thief has more than enough time to grab your steering wheel and make off with your car.
“This one drives me crazy,” adds Dubin, “people just leave their keys in the ignition, while going in for a coffee and doughnut or warming up their car unattended in the morning. Approximately 20% of all stolen cars have keys in them.”
When parking, choose a well-lit area, roll up your windows, and lock your doors. This one’s a no-brainer – don’t make it easy for a crook to gain access to your vehicle. At night, park your car in the garage instead of leaving it on the driveway.
Don’t leave valuables, packages, or purses in view. Either put them in the trunk or glove compartment, or hide them under jackets or blankets. Don’t tempt a passing crook by leaving a purse or pricey iPad in the front seat of your car.
Don’t keep important documents in your car. If you leave important documents in your vehicle you could end up getting your identity stolen along with your car. Don’t keep your vehicle ownership or your liability pink slips in your vehicle, as well as any credit card invoices or other documents containing your personal info. If an identity thief gets their hands on your precious personal info, they could assume your identity and get into your credit card account.
Use the latest tech to keep your car safe. Technology like warning devices, immobilizing devices and tracking devices can be life-savers if your car is ever stolen. Visible and/or audible warning devices will keep thieves at bay, and immobilizing technology (like smart keys, fuel cut-offs and kill switches) can keep a crook from ever starting your car. GPS tracking devices will let the police know as soon as your vehicle is stolen, and helps them recover your car if it ever gets into the wrong hands.
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