These are the 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada – CTV News

TORONTO -- Owners of Ford F-series pickup trucks should take extra care to lock their vehicles because it appears theyre a primary target for thieves.

Once again, Ford F250 and F350 trucks from the 2000s topped the Insurance Bureau of Canadas annual ranking of the most stolen vehicles in Canada. In 2019, Ford pickup trucks took up eight of the top 10 spots on the list with the 2007 Ford F-350 claiming the unenviable title of most stolen vehicle for the year.

Its unsurprising news for anyone who has been following the IBCs annual ranking, which is based on insurance claims data collected from nearly all automobile insurance companies in Canada. Ford pickup trucks have consistently dominated the list since it began in 2003.

According to the IBC, Ford pickup trucks are prime targets because they lack ignition immobilizers, which are devices that can prevent thieves from hot-wiring them.

The lack of an ignition immobilizer is the number one reason this series of Ford trucks continues to take up the majority of spots on the list, the association said in a press release Tuesday.

Interestingly, the Ford pickup trucks featured on the list were earlier models from before 2008 when new safety technology was installed in the vehicles.

As some of the most popular vehicles on the road, the prevalence of Ford pickup trucks in Canada, particularly in provinces such as Alberta, also contributed to the high rate of theft.

THE TOP 10 MOST STOLEN VEHICLES IN CANADA IN 2019

With auto thefts costing Canadians close to $1 billion each year, the IBC warns that thieves are becoming more sophisticated and using new technology to bypass security systems and electronically gain access to vehicles.

According to the bureaus findings, technology had a major impact on vehicle thefts in 2019.

Electronic auto theft is on the rise across the country as more vehicles are equipped with technology like keyless entry fobs, said Bryan Gast, the national director of investigative services at IBC.

The IBC said thieves can use wireless transmitters to intercept the signal from keyless entry fobs and open a locked vehicles door.

TIPS TO PREVENT VEHICLE FRAUD

To protect your vehicle, the IBC advises owners to avoid leaving their keyless entry fob in a vehicle or in an unprotected area near the entrance of your home.

If you want to leave your fob near the front door, the IBC said to place it in a protective box or bag that blocks the signal instead of in an exposed bowl or on a hallway table.

Additionally, if your vehicle isnt already equipped with one, consider installing an immobilizing device to prevent thieves from hot-wiring it.

The IBC said Canadians should install a tracking device in their vehicles that can emit a signal to police or a monitoring station if a theft occurs.

OTHER TIPS

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These are the 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada - CTV News