Day 5- Auto Theft Stats

Auto theft or motor vehicle theft is characterized by someone stealing a vehicle- including automobiles, buses, motorcycles, snowmobiles or trailers- from another person.
Some methods of stealing automobiles include

• Theft of an unattended vehicle without keys- includes breaking and entering and taking the vehicle.
• Theft with access to keys- otherwise known as "Taken Without Owner's Consent".
• Opportunistic theft- taken with keys visibly present, such as idling.
• Carjacking- using threats or violence to apprehend the vehicle.
• Fraudulent Theft- agreeing to sell a vehicle without recieving money from buyer.

Generally there is two reasons why criminals steal cars- because they need transportation (either short or long term), or they will sell the parts of the vehicle for profit. According to Statistics Canada, in 2009 about 300 cars a day were stolen.

The most common stolen cars vary in price, from the Honda Civic, to the Cadillac Escalade. Although in 2010, the Honda Civic is the most stolen car in Canada- in places such as Alberta, more Fords are stolen per year versus Hondas. The top 10 stolen cars in 2010 were:

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 

Surprisingly, the most cars are stolen in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and the runner up is Abbotsford, BC. The Top 10 places in Canada are:

1. Winnipeg, MB     1,714*
2. Abbotsford, BC    1,001
3. Edmonton, AB     832
4. Regina, SK          734
5. Calgary, AB         638
6. Vancouver, BC      630
7. Saskatoon, SK     615
8. Montreal, QC        600
9. London, ON          489
10. Hamilton, ON        480

*(Per 100,000 population)

There are many ways to deter thieves from stealing your vehicle. Some include doing things like:

• Always roll up your windows all the way when leaving your vehicle and lock it up.
• Don't leave keys in view or in the ignition. It only takes a moment for someone to jump in and drive away.
• Keep your vehicle registration and proof of insurance on you- don't leave them in the glove box.
• Do not leave valuable items such as laptops, sports equipment or packages in clear view. Keep them covered and out of sight.
• Try to park in a well lit, busy area.
• Get your car parts marked. This could deter thieves, as they resell car parts and this would make your car a less attractive target.
• To prevent having your car towed by thieves, park with your wheels sharply turned and use your emergency brake.
• If you park in your own private garage, make sure you lock both the garage and your car.