New report shows vehicles most likely to be stolen in Canada

Some popular SUVs and trucks top the list of the most commonly stolen vehicles in Canada during 2021, according to a new report from the national organization that helps insurance companies to fight fraud.

The report from Équité Association found Honda CRVs topped the list over 4,100 vehicles being stolen in the country this year, although Lexus RS series vehicles are more likely to get stolen with a theft rate of 6.4 per cent. The theft rate of Honda CRVs is 1.7 per cent.

The list rounds out with Ford F150s, Honda Civics and the Toyota Highlander rounding out the top five makes and models.

In Ontario, the theft rate for a Lexus RX series was over nine per cent with 2,083 vehicles stolen and was the most likely vehicle to be stolen in the region.

The trend in vehicles thefts, the report found, was that all high-end vehicles are targets including pick-up trucks, SUVs, and luxury cards.

According to Équité Association, thieves are exploiting the advancement in technology when it comes to vehicles by using “relay attacks” that enables them to reprogram key fobs.

Toronto and Montreal were “rich hunting grounds for organized crime auto thefts” with Montreal being the principal exit port for stolen vehicles as the report said organized crime networks are stealing cars in greater volume to export them internationally.

Over 1,000 stolen vehicles, valued at more than $40 million, were recovered from the Port of Montreal in 2021.

The report comes at a time when vehicle thefts are on the rise across the GTA. Over 6,500 vehicles were stolen in Toronto in 2021 and nearly 7,000 have been taken in 2022 as of October.

Toronto Police say they are working to address the rising thefts. In May, they launched the Organized Crime Investigative Support Team, which focuses on car thefts and carjackings.