Ontario's most stolen vehicles of 2023
Violent car thefts are on the rise, GTA police services say
A new report reveals that some vehicles are prime targets for theft, with Range Rovers being particularly vulnerable. According to the report from Équité Association, an organization focused on crime prevention for the Canadian property and casualty insurance industry, one out of every 14 Range Rovers in the province is stolen.
The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover, the 2022 Land Rover Defender, and the 2021 Cadillac Escalade Series top the list of the most frequently stolen vehicles in the province.
Brian Gast, vice president of Équité's investigative services division, emphasized the large sums of money stolen from vehicles in Ontario, estimating that criminals made over $1 billion from stolen cars in the province. "That's the money that is up for grabs for organized crime. It's being used to purchase guns, drugs, whatever the case may be. It's being used to further their criminal operations domestically and internationally," he said. "So it's a very big concern and it goes beyond financial."
Équité's February report also highlighted a 48% increase in auto thefts in Ontario between 2021 and 2023, and noted that a car is stolen in Canada every five minutes. Despite initiatives introduced earlier this year by federal and provincial governments and police to combat car theft, Gast and others argue that more action is needed.
One of the goals of the organization is to push for stronger security measures in vehicles sold in Canada. "Globally, vehicles are manufactured to the requirements of whatever particular country when it comes to the security package, and we're looking to elevate and make the Canadian security package much more robust," Gast said.
In addition to traditional car thefts, authorities are seeing a rise in violent crimes associated with stealing vehicles. According to Peel Regional Police, York Regional Police, and Toronto Police Services, home invasions related to car thefts have surged by nearly 140%, while carjackings have increased by 18% in Toronto.
Detective Sergeant Greg O'Connor from Peel Regional Police's auto theft unit has observed similar trends. "Unfortunately, carjackings and the home invasion numbers are rising. But we've doubled the size of our unit in Peel region," he explained. His team has seen an increase in vehicle recoveries as a result.
O'Connor recommends that vehicle owners take precautions, such as installing trackers and immobilizers, and park their vehicles in garages whenever possible. He also advises that if a person is confronted by car thieves, they should prioritize their safety: "If you do come into an instance where somebody is making demands for your car or something along those lines, they build a car every day. They don't build people every day. Just let that car go. It's not worth what could come down the road."
