These are the most stolen vehicles in Ottawa so far in 2023
Approximately 100 higher-end luxury SUVs and pickup trucks have been stolen in Ottawa each month so far this year.
That works out to three to four vehicle thefts every night in 2023, and Ottawa police say higher-end vehicle thefts are becoming more common.
"Yes, it's on the rise," said Det. Douglas Belanger of the Ottawa Police Service Organized Crime Section.
"It’s basically doubled year-over-year for the past five years, and the trends are that it’s going to continue, if not escalate moving into the coming year."
Statistics provided to CTV News Ottawa by Ottawa police show the Jeep Wranglers/Gladiators top the list of stolen vehicles so far this year, with 66 vehicles reported stolen. Number two on the list is the Toyota Highlanders, with 49 vehicles reported stolen, followed by 45 Honda CRVs and 31 Dodge Ram Trucks.
"We’re probably seeing about 20 to 30 per cent recovery rate," says Det. Belanger, explaining those stats are for these types of higher-end SUVs or pickup trucks, which are generally stolen for export or “re-vining.”
He says recovery rates for cars stolen for "joy rides" for example are higher.
Belanger says so far this year, there have been 49 arrests connected to stolen vehicles.
Tamy Vallieres says she had a close call with her Jeep Wrangler.
Over Easter weekend, her driveway security camera captured two people in broad daylight, checking out her Jeep and paying close attention to the edge of the windshield.
"I thought they were bold, the nerve of them to come onto my property," Vallieres says.
It happened just two months after her husband's Jeep Grand Cherokee was stolen from a movie theatre parking lot.
“I went in at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, and when I came out at 5:20 the car was gone.”
The retired Ottawa police officer covered the Vehicle Identification Number on her Jeep.
"They get discouraged, and they leave.”
She thinks her Jeep was spared, because she covered up the VIN.
“I think they’re trying to obtain the VIN to be able to fabricate a key, to be able to get into the vehicle and take off with it – come back at a later date maybe, or in the afternoon or evening."
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Det. Belanger says none of the higher-end SUVs or pickup trucks have been stolen from garages.
He says when it comes to prevention – look to after-market Engine Immobilizers, a device usually hard-wired directly into your car, which prevents thieves from starting it.
“No one method is really foolproof, but that engine immobilizer – that after market options are probably the best ones if you’re sticking with any of the high-theft vehicles.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.