After years of rising car thefts across Canada, the trend has finally begun to slow. However, SUVs continue to be a prime target, dominating the list of the top 10 most stolen vehicles in 2023.
Leading the pack in Canada is the Toyota Highlander, with 3,413 thefts reported, according to the non-profit Équité Association. The 2021 models were especially sought after by thieves.
“The Toyota Highlander is a popular model in Canada, which is globally serviceable and has a high resale value both domestically and internationally,” Équité said in a news release.
“It also shares similarities with nearly all of the vehicles on the national list, where the vehicles are 2019 or newer models, and have vulnerabilities that come with keyless ignitions, particularly as these vehicles do not come equipped with anti-theft devices aligned to the ULC 338 Anti-theft Standards.”
The second most commonly stolen vehicle in Canada was the 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 Series, with 3,078 thefts reported across the country, followed by the Lexus RX Series, which was stolen 3,037 times.
Auto Theft in Ontario
In Ontario, the most commonly stolen vehicle was the 2022 Lexus RX Series, with 2,852 reported thefts. Following closely was the 2022 Toyota Highlander, with 2,838 thefts, while the 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 Series rounded out the top three at 1,977 reported incidents.
Similar to the national ranking, SUVs were the most commonly stolen vehicle type in Ontario, with seven of the top ten stolen vehicles being SUVs.
The Rising Threat of Auto Theft and National Efforts to Combat It
According to the Équité Association, auto theft surged between 2021 and 2023, with increases of 48.2% in Ontario, 57.9% in Quebec, 34% in Atlantic Canada, and 5.5% in Alberta.
However, in May 2024, Public Safety Canada launched its National Action Plan on Combating Auto Theft, marking a significant step forward. While efforts from provincial and federal governments, along with law enforcement, have contributed to a national decline in auto theft this year, sustained collaboration and commitment from all stakeholders will be essential to keeping this progress on track.
“The most crucial step in fighting auto theft is stopping it before it starts,” says Bryan Gast, Vice President, Investigative Services of Équité Association.
“One of the most common trends we’re seeing on the Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles list includes newer vehicles with keyless ignitions. The provincial and federal governments have already committed hundreds of millions of dollars in investments to respond to the auto theft crisis with positive results through enforcement. However, there is much more to be done to combat auto theft; the crisis is far from over in Canada," added Gast.
How to Protect Your Vehicle
To safeguard vehicles from theft, Canadians are encouraged to adopt a layered approach, as recommended by Équité. This strategy includes four key elements: simple precautions, anti-theft devices, vehicle immobilizers, and tracking systems. Each layer adds a level of protection, and together they significantly reduce the risk of theft.
