2009 Toyota VenzaBill Petro
Bad news for Toyota Venza owners — the 2009 edition of the crossover SUV is the new hot target for Canadian car thieves.
The Toyota model tops the Insurance Bureau of Canada's top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles in Canada.
The 2009 Venza replaces the 2000 Honda Civic SiR, which was last year's No. 1 stolen vehicle and drops to third place this year.
In at second this year among car thieves is the 1999 Honda Civic SiR two-door.
Rounding out the top five are the 2006 Ford F350 Pickup Truck 4WD in fourth place and the 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT four-door AWD in fifth.
The insurance bureau says high-end vehicles are often targeted by criminal organizations that strip them for parts or resell them to unsuspecting consumers.
"Consumers need to be aware when they're in the market for used vehicles or parts," said Rick Dubin of the insurance bureau.
"Generally, vehicles stolen in Quebec — like the Venza — are ending up in the Port of Montreal, as thieves appear to be seeking a quick distribution of the vehicles," Dubin said.
While auto theft is a big business, Dubin said the numbers are dropping.
"The good news is that statistics show that in 2010, the number of stolen vehicles in Canada — approximately 93,000 — was down 15 per cent from 2009," Dubin said.
"The bad news is that recovery rates for stolen vehicles are continuing to decline," he added.
The top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles in Canada are:
- 2009 Toyota Venza 4-door
- 1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
- 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
- 2006 Ford F-350 Pickup Truck 4WD
- 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT 4-door AWD
- 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS 4-door 4WD
- 2007 Ford F-350 Pickup Truck 4WD
- 2001 Pontiac Aztek 4-door AWD
- 1998 Acura Integra 2-door
- 1999 Acura Integra 2-door
Source: Insurance Bureau of Canada