Car thieves target both the luxurious and lowly: Insurance Bureau

Drivers of luxury and low-end vehicles alike should consider taking extra safeguards to protect their cars from theft, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada's list of top 10 stolen vehicles, which this year included minivans and budget Neons.

The 2000 and 1999 models of the Honda Civic SiR (two-door) were ranked at the top of the list released Wednesday.

But the IBC warned that older cars, including 1996 Dodge/Plymouth Neons are in hot demand with thieves snatching the vehicles and selling them for parts or using them for transportation.

"I'm sure a lot of people with decade-old Neons don't think that anybody would want to steal their car, but this shows that thieves aren't just interested in new or high-value vehicles," said Rick Dubin, IBC vice-president, in a release issued Wednesday.

Dubin suggested thieves are targeting the older models because they aren't equipped with anti-theft electronic immobilizers. He also said criminals favour these older vehicles because there are so many of them onthe road and they can therefore blend in with the pack.

Meanwhile, organized crime units are zeroing in on luxury vehicles and shipping them overseas or taking them apart for parts. In some cases, the pricey vehicles are re-identified and sold to unwitting consumers.

4-wheel-drive vehicles shipped overseas

"Thieves are stealing high-end four-wheel drive vehicles like the Hummer H2, Cadillac Escalade, Lexus RX350, BMW X5, Mercedes Benz GL450, Lincoln MKX and Toyota RAV4 in greater numbers," Dubin said.

"Vehicles like these are often stolen to order by organized crime rings, and shipped to places like West Africa and the Middle East, where they are well-suited to the terrain."

Conversely, topping the list of least stolen vehicles in Canada are the 2003 Cadillac Deville four-door, the 2002 Lincoln Continental four-door and the 2001 Lincoln Town Car four-door.

According to Statistics Canada, 146,142 vehicles were stolen in 2007, a decline of 7.9 per cent over the previous year. The IBC noted that the recovery rate for stolen vehicles is sliding, with thefts costing the insurance industry $542 million.