1999, 2000 Honda Civic most stolen vehicles in Canada
Posted December 16, 2010 8:55 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – The 1999 and 2000 Honda Civic SiR’s have earned the dubious distinction of being the most stolen vehicles in Canada, according to numbers compiled by the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
“Those particular vehicles are used for transportation thefts (and) joyriding,” said the IBC’s Rick Dubin, adding that later, the vehicles are usually dumped. “Because there are so many of them on the road, getting parts could be some of the consideration, but these cars can be easily modified.”
This is the fourth year in a row that the Civic leads the list.
The IBC said higher end vehicles such as large, luxury SUVs are popular among organized criminals, as other models to top the list include two Cadillac Escalade models, two Hummer H2s, three Acura models, Land Rovers and the Audi Quattro.
“What you’re seeing in Ontario in the top ten – four Escalades, two Hummers and a Range Rover, four wheel drive, all wheel drive – are highly desirable by organized crime, and they’re placed in a container quickly and they’re shipped to West Africa, in particular Nigeria and Ghana,” Dubin told 680News, explaining that sophisticated criminals can steal a car in under 30 seconds.
Over 100,000 vehicles were stolen in Canada in 2009, with nearly 30,000 thefts taking place in Ontario. Moreover, 20 per cent of stolen cars in Ontario were taken from driveways or parking lots with their keys in them.
“During the cold weather, if you leave your vehicle running unattended on your driveway, organized crime targets those vehicles and they’re going to steal them,” said Dubin.
Dubin also recommends drivers always lock their doors, and refrain from keeping the vehicle registration certificate and proof of insurance in their vehicles.
The thefts cost insurance companies close to a billion dollars per year.
Top 10 stolen vehicles in Canada are:
1. 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
2. 1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
3. 2002 Cadillac Escalade 4-door 4WD
4. 2004 Cadillac Escalade 4-door 4WD
5. 2005 Acura RSX Type S 2-door
6. 1997 Acura Integra 2-door
7. 2000 Audi S4 Quattro 4-door AWD
8. 2003 Hummer H2 4-door AWD
9. 2006 Acura RSX Type S 2-door
10. 2004 Hummer H2 4-door AWD
