Toyota Highlander Tops List of Most Stolen Vehicles in Canada for 2023

Toyota Highlander Tops List of Most Stolen Vehicles in Canada for 2023

The Toyota Highlander has become Canada's most stolen vehicle for the first time, according to the Équité Association's 2023 report. After two years at the top, the Honda CR-V now shares the spotlight with the Highlander, which has pushed its way into first place. The rise in theft of this particular model highlights a wider trend involving high-value vehicles with keyless ignition systems.

Why the Toyota Highlander?

The Highlander's popularity is both a blessing and a curse. Its high resale value and global demand make it a prime target for organized crime. Thieves take advantage of keyless ignition systems, bypassing electronic security to quickly access and steal vehicles. Without anti-theft technologies that meet modern standards, even newer Highlander models - 2019 and later - are particularly vulnerable.

Canada's outdated Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations, including the lack of mandatory compliance with ULC 338 anti-theft standards, exacerbate the problem. These regulations have not kept pace with the sophisticated methods used by today's thieves.

Between 2021 and 2023, auto theft skyrocketed in several provinces:

  • Ontario: 48.2% increase

  • Quebec: 57.9% increase

  • Atlantic Canada: 34% increase

  • Alberta: 5.5% increase

Although the government has launched a National Action Plan to Combat Car Theft in 2024, experts stress that theft prevention must focus on modernizing vehicle security standards and limiting unauthorized access to vehicle electronics.

Strategies to prevent theft

The Équité association advocates a "layered approach" to reducing the likelihood of theft:

  • Simple habits: Locking doors, parking in well-lit areas and hiding valuables.

  • Anti-theft devices: Steering wheel locks and car alarms.

  • Vehicle immobilizers: Technology that prevents the engine from being started without an authorized key.

  • Tracking systems: GPS devices to locate stolen vehicles.

The combination of these strategies provides the best protection for vehicle owners.

The wider impact

In addition to personal loss, car theft drives up insurance premiums and fuels organized crime. Stolen vehicles are often shipped overseas or dismantled for parts, generating profits for criminal networks. According to Équité, tackling this problem requires cooperation between manufacturers, governments and law enforcement.

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