The top 10 stolen vehicle models in Canada for 2022 have been revealed as car theft has become a crisis in the country.
Topping the list is the Honda CR-V for the second year running, with over 5,600 thefts recorded in 2022, according to Équité Association which investigates the thefts. The 2020 model of this vehicle was listed as the most stolen out of all the models.
Following in second place is the Dodge RAM 1500 Series with around 2,600 thefts recorded, and the 2022 model listed as the most stolen. Then in third place is the Ford F150 Series, followed by the Lexus RX Series and the Toyota Highlander.
Completing the list is the Honda Civic, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover Range Rover, Chevrolet/GMC Silverado/Sierra 1500 Series, and the Jeep Wrangler.
Vice-president of Investigational Services at Équité, Bryan Gast, explains that the car models that make up the top 10 list are the ones that are most in demand overseas, where the stolen vehicles are often shipped to and sold for a profit. Nine of the top 10 models are from 2019 and newer for criminals to maximize their profits.
“Right now, what’s driving the top 10 is demand. Demand is driven by what the organized crime groups are in need of to supply their orders and their needs overseas.”
– Bryan Gast, Vice-president of Investigational Services at Équité
Thousands of vehicles from Canada are shipped to Africa and West Africa in particular, parts of Europe and the Middle East. Gast speculated that the Honda CR-V might be the top of the list because it is a quality vehicle that suits the criminals needs, such as being a utility car that can maneuver in the terrain it is going to.
Despite raising awareness of the prevalence of car thefts in Canada, the issue is only getting worse, according to Gast and police data. Insurers paid out $1.2 billion in theft claims in 2022, according to Équité, which is a huge number.
Toronto police data shows that vehicle theft is up by 27% so far in 2023 in the city, while Équité says that auto thefts increased in Ontario by 48% and by 50% in Quebec in 2022. Pearson Airport has recently been revealed as a hotspot for thefts, with 410 vehicles stolen there so far in 2023 – more than one car a day on average.
Bryan Gast has also mentioned that Ontario has dedicated $51 million to tackle vehicle theft and established a Provincial Carjacking Joint Taskforce, which will dedicate prosecutors to car theft cases. This can speed up the process and could be a significant deterrent.