Cadillac Escalades among most stolen vehicles

The 2000 Honda Civic SiR two-door was the most frequently stolen vehicle in 2009, followed by the 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV four-door AWD, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

The bureau released on Wednesday its annual Top 10 list of most stolen automobiles. Unlike in 2008, thieves targeted more expensive types, with four different models of the Cadillac Escalade making the Top 10 list.

"We're seeing two very different forms of auto theft," Rick Dubin, IBC's vice-president of investigations, said in a news release. "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, high-end vehicles."

"Although these are harder to steal, sophisticated organized crime rings can make a strong profit by shipping them overseas, chopping them for parts, or changing their vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and selling them to unsuspecting consumers."

The complete list is as follows:

1. 2000 Honda Civic SiR two-door.
2. 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV four-door AWD.
3. 1999 Honda Civic SiR two-door.
4. 2006 Chevrolet/GMC Trailblazer SS four-door 4WD.
5. 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT four-door AWD.
6. 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV four-door AWD.
7. 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder two-door.
8. 2000 Audi S4 Quattro four-door.
9. 2006 Hummer H2 four-door AWD.
10. 2005 Cadillac Escalade four-door 4WD.

It's a departure from last year's list, which saw thieves going for older models of cheaper cars. At least five brands last year were more than a decade old, and only one could really be called a high-end vehicle. In 2009, seven were high-end cars, not including the Trailblazer.

Here's the 2008 list:

1. 2000 Honda Civic SiR two-door.
2. 1999 Honda Civic SiR two-door
3. 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX/WRX STi four-door AWD.
4. 1995 Dodge/Plymouth Grand Caravan/Voyager.
5. 1995 Dodge/Plymouth Caravan/Voyager.
6. 2002 Acura RSX Type S two-door.
7. 2001 Audi TT Quattro Roadster.
8. 1995 Acura Integra two-door.
9. 1996 Dodge/Plymouth Neon two-door.
10. 1996 Dodge/Plymouth Neon four-door.

Many higher-end four-wheel drive vehicles like the BMW X6, Toyota RAV4 and Lexus RX350 did not make the Top 10 list in 2009, but they are being stolen in greater numbers and they're often less likely to be recovered, said the bureau.

"There is a demand for in Ghana, Nigeria, Dubai, Lebanon, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Organized criminals are shipping the vehicles overseas, and as a result, the recovery rate for stolen vehicles in Canada continues to decline, even though there are fewer thefts in total," noted the release.

Last year, IBC investigators and police agencies stopped 300 stolen vehicles from leaving Canadian ports and repatriated 72 cars from abroad, with a total value of approximately $11 million.

In 2008, 125,271 vehicles were stolen, down 15 per cent from 2007. The thefts cost Canadian insurers $465 million, or an average of about $30 per auto insurance policy.