Topic: Toyota Venza #1 Stolen Car in Canada

[1TSX]

Watch out Snowman. 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/12/14/toronto-top10-stolen.html

Bad news for Toyota Venza owners — the 2009 edition of the crossover SUV is the new hot target for Canadian car thieves.

The Toyota model tops the Insurance Bureau of Canada's top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles in Canada.

The 2009 Venza replaces the 2000 Honda Civic SiR, which was last year's No. 1 stolen vehicle and drops to third place this year.

In at second this year among car thieves is the 1999 Honda Civic SiR two-door.

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
The insurance bureau says high-end vehicles are often targeted by criminal organizations that strip them for parts or resell them to unsuspecting consumers.

"Consumers need to be aware when they're in the market for used vehicles or parts," said Rick Dubin of the insurance bureau.

"Generally, Quebec stolen vehicles — like the Venza — are ending up in the Port of Montreal, as thieves appear to be seeking a quick distribution of the vehicles," Dubin said.

While auto theft is a big business, Dubin said the numbers are dropping.

"The good news is that statistics show that in 2010, the number of stolen vehicles in Canada — approximately 93,000 — was down 15 per cent from 2009," Dubin said.

"The bad news is that recovery rates for stolen vehicles are continuing to decline," he added.

[The Mighty Duck]

Kind of concerning that most of the vehicles on this list are older cars. I would have expected a newer car to be harder to steal. I know nothing is theft-proof and if a thief really wants it, they'll find a way... but is the Venza really that tempting a target? Or is it just really, really easy to steal?

[aquadorhj]

Pontiac Aztec in top 10?  that MUST be insurance fraud, as owners are finally fed up with fugliness..    ....  ..maybe not, but how else can you explain Aztec being stolen?  

[EV Dan]

They are GM, so lots prolly become parts donors. I'm not sure how to explain the Venza tho, it's not exactly a hot car to lead the list. 

[1TSX]

Weird. Are people in the Middle East and Eastern Europe dumping their stolen, shipped Range Rovers/X5s/Land Cruisers for Venzas now? Tough times?   

[safristi]

GOODY we all know where Snowballs lives........last one there's  with cops "wrench" is a sissy.................

[Mike]

GOODY we all know where Snowballs lives........last one there's  with cops "wrench" is a sissy.................

Saf, I hear he is in Vegas soon.  See you at his place then?

[Snowman]

  I told Mom to shine up the shot gun

[rrocket]

I told Mom to shine up the shot gun

Gun rack for Xmas??

[aquadorhj]

in all seriousness, though, i thought all newer cars had immobilizers in the keys..  so how are these thieves stealing the venza?

[Blue01]

Pontiac Aztec in top 10?  that MUST be insurance fraud, as owners are finally fed up with fugliness..    ....  ..maybe not, but how else can you explain Aztec being stolen?  

So that's what's happened to those butt-ugly cars.  I think I saw one Aztec last year and was wondering why I hardly ever saw them.

Yeah, the Venza is a puzzle.  It's interesting to note that the 2001 and later Civic is no longer on the list, ever since they put a chip in the key.

[johngenx]

The chipped keys stop joy riders, not real thieves.  If a pro wants your car, you're going to have a tough time stopping them.

[Juke1]

If they found a way to drive this away and not tow or flat bed it then there is a serious flaw in the security.  This should not happen to a vehicle that price.

[airbalancer]

If they found a way to drive this away and not tow or flat bed it then there is a serious flaw in the security.  This should not happen to a vehicle that price.

with a vin #, code book  and the key cutter you can get any Gm car

Like John wrote if a pro wants the car , they have it in seconds

[safristi]

  I'm gonna make a BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE about that...........

 man hi Jacking a Venza....................things must be terrible in UZBECKISTAN!!!!!!!! ..or maybe it's a NEW OAKVILE BY-LAW to remove cheap cars from the streets.......

[johngenx]

A 2002 Escalade has a chipped key and security system to rival anything on the road today.  The 2007 Ford pick up as well.  2006 Trailblazer too.  2006 Ford pick up?  Yup.

Quite a few on that list have chipped keys and other security measures.

So, contrary to NissanFanBoiHatesAllThingsToyota, it's not a Toyota flaw.  The only problem Toyota has in this case is making something popular enough that pros are stealing it...

[Mike]

A 2002 Escalade has a chipped key and security system to rival anything on the road today.  The 2007 Ford pick up as well.  2006 Trailblazer too.  2006 Ford pick up?  Yup.

Quite a few on that list have chipped keys and other security measures.

So, contrary to NissanFanBoiHatesAllThingsToyota, it's not a Toyota flaw.  The only problem Toyota has in this case is making something popular enough that pros are stealing it...

Yup, it is all about exporting vehicles.  If you have one of these cars and you notice it is missing in the morning, chances are it is already in a shipping container either on a train or a ship.  Many crooks don't even need the door to be opened to steal the vehicle.  There are several ways to steal a car without turning it on and without anyone noticing. 

The older civic's are still on the list cause amateur thieves can easily steal the non-chipped cars and then strip them and sell the parts to 'tuners'

[johngenx]

With a significant portion of our business being car security, I employed two ex car thieves.  If they want your car, they will take it.  The trick is to make YOUR car unappealing, and they'll move on to the next one of those they know of.

I won't go into tactics, but think about that many of those successful boosts have the thief driving away, keys in the ignition...

[Mike]

With a significant portion of our business being car security, I employed two ex car thieves.  If they want your car, they will take it.  The trick is to make YOUR car unappealing, and they'll move on to the next one of those they know of.

I won't go into tactics, but think about that many of those successful boosts have the thief driving away, keys in the ignition...

Don't leave your car keys in view of your front door at night is always a good #1 lesson. 

[dr_spock]

Like replacing the 19" wheels and tires on the Venza with 15"?