Car theft in Canada

People steal cars for a few different reasons. Most auto thefts are crimes of opportunity because they were unlocked, keys were left in it or the engine was running. Organized theft rings exist to get cheap parts for hard-to-find or for very popular models. They steal them and sell them or the parts.Another reason why people steal cars is adrenaline.Many people steal for the thrill of trying not to get caught.Some other people steal cars because they do not have anything else to do, or because they want a free ride.Many poor people steal cars because they do not see any other way out of their situation in life.
In 1998, more than 165,000 vehicles were stolen in Canada, for an average rate of 452 a day! Canada's three largest provinces, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, account for more than 75% of all cars stolen in Canada, while Canada's three largest cities, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, accounted for over 42% of all vehicle thefts in 1998.

The following is a list of cities in Canada with the highest rates of car theft per 100,000 population (Statistics Canada, 2007):
Winnipeg, MB 1,932
Abbotsford, BC 1,155
Edmonton, AB 1,076
Regina, SK 1,008
Vancouver, BC 745
Montreal, QC 646
London, ON 641
Calgary, AB 611
Saskatoon, SK 582
Hamilton, ON 503

The most commonly stolen vehicles:1. 2000 Honda Civic SiR
2. 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV
3. 1999 Honda Civic SiR
4. 2006 Chevrolet/GMC Trailblazer SS
5. 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT
6. 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV
7. 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
8. 2000 Audi S4 Quattro
9. 2006 Hummer
10. 2005 Cadillac Escalade

One type of thief is just looking for a car that’s easy to steal, with no approved anti-theft electronic immobilizer, which can be used for transportation, stripped for parts or used to commit other crimes. The other type of thief goes after newer, expensive vehicles. Although these are harder to steal, rganized crime rings can make a strong profit by shipping them overseas, chopping them for parts, or changing their vehicle identification numbers and selling them tconsumers.

Tips to prevent your car from being stolen:
• NEVER leave your keys in the car
• If possible, it is always best to park your car beyond a gate or garage where it can be covered from roving eyes.
• Always have a copy of your vehicle registration and title at home somewhere secure. (The reason being, if your car is ever stolen, authorities will not have any clue what they are looking for if you can't provide any information about the license plate or other pertinent information).
• Never leave valuables in plain sight
• Always lock your doors and shut your windows
• NEVER leave your car running and unattended
• Always use a security system
• Have a tracker fitted so that your car can be traced if it is taken
•Never leave vehicle documents in your car as they could help a thief to sell it on
• Invest in a steering lock and use it every time you leave your car