Top-10 Most Stolen Cars In Canada. Hint: Think Twice If You Drive A Ford F350

Ever wonder about what vehicles are stolen the most in Canada? Think your Mercedes or VW Golf GTI make the list? And why do people steal vehicles in the first place? 

The Canadian Insurance Bureau claims that vehicle theft costs $1 Billion a year, including $542 Million to fix and replace stolen vehicles, $250 Million in police, health care, and court system costs, and millions of dollars more in correctional services. (As an aside, you can see with such costs that many advocate driverless cars fully autonomous and equipped with numerous data tracking devices. Some in the U.S. are already calling for the end to the $100 bill, given its convenience for thieves--could this be a similar argument for the end of the human-driven vehicle?)

There are a number of reasons why vehicles are stolen: they can be shipped over seas and sold for higher profit than in Canada; they can be given a fake VIN and sold to unsuspecting consumers; they can be used for joy-rides and get-away cars; or they can be simply taken out of pure desire. 

So which vehicles made the top-ten Canadian Insurance Bureau list for 2015? First I will list the top ten in Canada, then the top-ten in Ontario, both of which are distinct from the other. 

Top-10 stolen vehicles In Canada

1. 2005 FORD F350 SD 4WD PU
2. 2006 FORD F350 SD 4WD PU
3. 2007 FORD F350 SD 4WD PU
4. 2006 CADILLAC ESCALADE 4DR 4WD SUV
5. 2003 FORD F350 SD 4WD PU
6. 2006 FORD F250 SD 4WD PU
7. 2001 FORD F350 SD 4WD PU
8. 2004 FORD F250 SD 4WD PU
9. 2007 FORD F250 SD 4WD PU
10. 2001 FORD F250 SD 4WD PU

If you (legitimately) own a Ford F250 or F350, as you can see not only do you own a highly desirable vehicle, but also you will need to go to some lengths to prevent it from being stolen. Amazing how they make up 90% of the top-ten list--I wonder why? Crooks need to haul stuff? They're cool and rugged, and powerful--perfect for high-speed get-aways?

Nevertheless, the top-ten list for Ontario is much more varied than that for Canada. 

Top-10 Stolen Vehicles In Ontario

1. 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE 4DR 4WD SUV
2. 2010 ACURA ZDX 4DR AWD SUV
3. 2009 BMW X6 4DR AWD SUV
4. 2013 ACURA MDX 4DR 4WD SUV
5. 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 2WD PU
6. 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4DR 4WD SUV
7. 2005 HUMMER H2 4DR AWD SUV
8. 2014 TOYOTA VENZA 5DR 4D
9. 2011 BMW X6 4DR AWD SUV
10. 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 2WD PU

One thing we can observe is that the Cadillac Escalade is a very desirable vehicle, filling out top spot in Ontario and 4th overall in Canada, edged out by the Ford F350. I wonder, however, why the 2006 is more popular as a stolen vehicle than the 2003 in Ontario? Another thing we can notice is thieves prefer SUVs and pick-ups over cars, for none of the vehicles above is a car. 

It goes without saying that if you have any of these vehicles, it will be important to keep them safe. Talk to your insurance broker about vehicle theft insurance, and keep your vehicle locked at all times. 

There is some good news to all of this: if you are driving a heap of kids around in a family van, chances are you won't be finding it stolen anytime soon...