Luxury Audis, aging Dodge Neons make IBC’s 2008 Top 10 stolen vehicles list

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC)’s 2008 list of the Top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles in Canada includes the appearance of luxury Audis and aging Dodge Neons, reflecting two motivations for auto theft — export and parts.
Luxury vehicles are usually stolen by organized crime for export, while low-end vehicles are stolen for transportation, parts or use in other crimes, IBC said.
The Top Ten stolen vehicles are:
• 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
• 1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
• 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX/WRX STi 4-door AWD
• 1995 Dodge/Plymouth Grand Caravan/Voyager
• 1995 Dodge/Plymouth Caravan/Voyager
• 2002 Acura RSX Type S 2-door
• 2001 Audi TT Quattro Roadster
• 1995 Acura Integra 2-door
• 1996 Dodge/Plymouth Neon 2-door
• 1996 Dodge/Plymouth Neon 4-door
Auto theft cost insurers Cdn$542 million in 2007, averaging out to Cdn$35 per auto insurance policy.
According to Statistics Canada, 146,142 vehicles were stolen in Canada in 2007, marking a drop of 7.9% over the prior year.
IBC investigators in 2008, working in partnership with law enforcement officers, stopped 295 stolen vehicles from leaving Canada and repatriated 139 from abroad — a total value of more than Cdn$13 million, according to the release.