Why your car can get stolen and how to stop it in Ontario

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) on Tuesday alerted the public to the rise in carjackings in the city.

In a news conference at Toronto Police Headquarters on Tuesday afternoon, police said there had been 182 carjackings so far this year, up 80 more reported incidents compared to 2021.

Insp. Rich Harris of the Hold Up Squad said 56 of the stolen vehicles in these carjackings were recovered.

“Many of these investigations are active and ongoing, and we are working with law enforcement agencies in all jurisdictions to solve these crimes in a timely manner,” Harris said.

Due to the significant increase in car thefts in Toronto, here’s an overview of why your car might be stolen, which cars are most desirable to thieves, and what to do if your car is stolen.

WHY CARS ARE STOLEN

According to Toronto Police, thieves often steal vehicles to sell them or some of their parts. You could also just use the car to get them from point A to point B and then give it up.

Police say vehicles can also be stolen to help them commit other crimes, such as robberies, drug deals or in-car shootings.

Another reason thieves target cars is “vehicle cloning,” which involves using the identity of a lawfully owned car—its vehicle identification number—on a stolen vehicle.

“Vehicles are stolen, given false identification numbers, and then sold to unsuspecting individuals who are scammed out of their money,” police wrote in a pamphlet sent to CTV Toronto.

TOP STOLEN VEHICLES IN ONTARIO IN 2021

According to a January report by HelloSafe.ca, an insurance platform, the top stolen cars in the province last year were Lexus RX series, Honda CR-Vs and Honda Civics.

The Toronto Police Department also had these cars among the three most desirable vehicles for thieves in the city.

This is the full HelloSafe top 10 list, including car models, brands and years:

1. Lexus RX, SUV, 2018
2. Honda CR-V, SUV, 2019
3. Honda Civic, sedan, 2019
4. Toyota Highlander, SUV, 2019
5. Chevrolet/GMC, Silverado/Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Truck, 2017
6. Ford, F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, Truck, 2019
7. Dodge Ram, 1500, 2500, 3500, Truck, 2019
8. Honda Accord, sedan, 2018
9. Toyota Corolla, sedan, 2017
10. Land Rover, Range Rover, SUV, 2016

Meanwhile, in Toronto in 2021, Honda CR-Vs were the top stolen vehicles in Toronto, and Hyundai Elantras also cracked the TPS list.

In Tuesday’s press conference, Harris said in addition to Hondas and Toyotas, high-end cars like Mercedes, BMWs, Porsches and Lamborghinis are targets for carjackers in Toronto.

HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF YOUR CAR BEING STOLEN

When parking in public spaces, the police advise against leaving the car running – even if you’re just going to run an errand for a minute. They also say to take your keys with you, lock all doors and windows, and turn your wheels to the curb to make towing more difficult.

At home, Toronto Police Department recommends that rear-wheel drive vehicles — cars whose rear wheels do most of the pushing — be parked backwards in a driveway. Front wheel drive cars or front engine vehicles should be parked in front first.

They also suggest making a photocopy of your property or insurance cards to leave in your vehicle in place of the original.

Another helpful piece of advice from the Toronto Police Department is to never hide a spare key in the vehicle or leave anything like your purse or chargers on display. They also remind car owners to take out any items they don’t want to lose.

There are a few other tips that CAA South Central Ontario (CAASCO) recommends to protect both you and your vehicle.

For itself, CAASCO says you should park your car in a well-lit, high-traffic area and consider installing a home security camera system at home to monitor your parking lot.

If you see someone approaching your vehicle and suspect you are being followed, they recommend making some noise to get attention and activating your car’s alarm with your key fob.

As for your vehicle, CAASCO recommends keeping your wireless key fob away from the front door or using a Faraday box or bag to block its signal to prevent remote access to the vehicle.

They also advise installing a GPS tracker, although it won’t necessarily deter theft — after all, late last year, York Police said thieves can use Apple AirTags and its technology to track and locate high-end vehicles steal.

CAASCO also recommends using an immobilizer, an electronic security device that will not start your vehicle’s engine unless the correct key is present. This can prevent thieves from short-circuiting your car.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CAR IS STOLEN

If your vehicle is stolen, police say you should contact them immediately and be ready to give them the following information:

• Year, model, make and color of the vehicle
• license number
• Vehicle Identification Number
• Serial numbers of all special equipment
• Special markings – dents, scratches, other damage, etc.
• Detailed information on accessories stolen from the vehicle

Featuring files from CTV Toronto’s Abby O’Brien and Phil Tsekouras and CP24’s Kerrisa Wilson.