Whether you drive a lemon or a lemon-coloured Lamborghini in Trail, thieves are targeting your vehicle — if it is unlocked.
Opportunity remains the most frequently stolen vehicle in the city, while the Ford F350 pickup truck retained the title as the most stolen vehicle in the West Kootenay, according to ICBC.
Across the nation, the big Ford held down fourth spot as the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) released its list of top 10 stolen vehicles Wednesday, with the 2009 Toyota Venza four-door the most delectable.
Trail RCMP Sgt. Rob Hawton said there have not been enough vehicles stolen in the city to get an accurate picture of what particular models entice local thieves. But opportunity — leaving your vehicle unlocked and the keys in it — remains the common theme for Trail tricksters.
“We have different dynamics here. Most of our vehicles stolen were simply because they were left insecure, and it’s simply a crime of opportunity,” he said. “Someone comes along and a vehicle is left open with the key in it and away they go.”
Trail vehicle thieves are not too specific in why they are taking a vehicle; unlike their national counterparts who target specific vehicles for re-sale or for parts, the IBC found.
High-end vehicles are often targeted by criminal organizations that strip them for parts or re-sell them to unsuspecting consumers.
Merriment characterized the thefts of vehicles in Trail, said Sgt. Hawton, with “joy riding” being the prime reason, and those incidents occurring more frequently in the summer.
“Vehicles stolen in Trail were not reflective in the list,” he said.
The majority of the vehicles stolen in Trail were recovered, said Sgt. Hawton.
In 2010, the number of stolen vehicles in Canada (approximately 93,000) was down 15 per cent from 2009, according to the IBC. The bad news is that national recovery rates for stolen vehicles are continuing to decline.
The 2009 Toyota Venza replaces the 2000 Honda Civic SiR at the top of the list, which was last year’s number one stolen vehicle.
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 F350 Pickup Truck 4WD
2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT 4-door AWD
2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS 4-door 4WD
2007 Ford F350 Pickup Truck 4WD
2001 Pontiac Aztek 4-door AWD
1998 Acura Integra 2-door
1999 Acura Integra 2-door