IBC releases ‘Most Wanted’ list of stolen cars

What’s Canada’s most-stolen car?
The Honda Civic seems to be the most popular vehicle of choice for car thieves, according to a list released by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).
Canada’s national trade association of the P & C insurance industry announced today that the 1999 and 2000 Honda Civics SiR 2-door hold the dubious distinction of topping this year’s most stolen vehicles list. The two models also had the highest theft claims cost per vehicle.
In addition, the Honda Civic 1994, 1995, and 1993 models are also found in the fourth, sixth, and tenth spots, respectively, on the IBC’s ‘Top 10’ list of most frequently stolen vehicles.
The Top Ten Stolen Vehicles are:
1. 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
2. 1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
3. 1996 4 wheel drive Chevrolet/GMC Blazer/Jimmy S Series 2-door
4. 1994 Honda Civic Si Hatchback 2-door
5. 1993 Volkswagen Corrado 2-door
6. 1995 Honda Civic Si Hatchback 2-door
7. 1992 Chrysler/Dodge Caravan and Voyager
8. 2002 all wheel drive Subaru Impreza WRX, 4-door
9. 1999 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback 2-door
10. 1993 Honda Civic Si hatchback 2-door
Of particular note, says the IBC, none of the above vehicles had an IBC-approved immobilizer system.
“Now that IBC-approved theft deterrent systems or immobilizers are commonly in place in newer vehicles, auto thieves have been turning increasingly to older vehicles,” Rick Dubin, vice president of IBC investigations, says. “We’ve seen this trend developing for several years, and these results confirm it.”
Electronic immobilizers are systems that prevent a vehicle from starting unless a specific electronic code is used.
In 1998, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) approved a Canadian standard for automobile theft-deterrent systems. The IBC worked with vehicle manufacturers, after-market manufacturers, and other interested stakeholders to develop the standards for approval by the SCC.
IBC estimates that theft of vehicles and their components – costs Canadian policyholders more than Cdn$580 million annually in insurance premiums.