Knowing that your car has been stolen is a horrible feeling. Your insurance will probably take care of it, but at the same time, we spend a lot of time in our cars and become quite attached to them. It can also be a huge inconvenience to go without your car for a few days. What many don’t know if that criminals often follow patterns, this is especially true for car thieves.

The majority of cars that are stolen in Canada are then shipped overseas. It is very common for criminal gangs to have a shopping list as they drive around and steal the make and models that they need to steal.

Another reason for cars to be stolen is that a criminal just needs to get from point a to point b without using their own car, or they are in a hurry. Often this can be to commit a crime in a vehicle that cannot be tied back to them. Joyriding is also a problem. Common among younger criminals that see a car as a way to spend a few hours driving around for fun.

No matter what the reason for the criminal to steal your car, it is a real pain to deal with.

Surprisingly, the top 10 cars that are stolen in Canada year over year are nearly all of the same brand and make and even model. The Ford F350 holds a large part of the top ten list. If you own a Ford pickup truck, you have a much greater chance of it being stolen than any other car in Canada. Here are the top ten stolen cars of 2018 ranked by the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

That list might not help you much if you don’t own a Ford F350. To get another picture of the make and model of cars that are most stolen in Canada, here is another list based on the most stolen cars without repeating the same model.

When it comes down to it, if a criminal wants to steal your car, they probably will. It’s not always possible to prevent car theft, however, you can make your car seem like less of an easy target by following a few simple steps.

1. Keep valuable items out of sight

If you have items like a laptop, wallet or anything else of value on display in your car, this is inviting someone to break in. It is always wise to put items out of sight, in the glove box or under the seat. You should also consider the time of year. If your car is full of Christmas gifts, you should think twice about leaving it in a parking lot in December. If you live in a neighbourhood where theft and crime have high rates, you may want to consider installing an alarm near your driveway or your house for extra protection.

2. Park in well-lit areas

Criminals love the dark and will often steer clear of cars that are parked in well-lit parking spots. Alleys and hidden away places are not ideal. You should also consider your personal safety too. You will have to come back to your car at some point and it helps to be able to clearly see the area around your car, especially at night.

3. Windows up and lock the doors

This might seem like an obvious one, but many people will happily leave their cars unlocked and their windows down. An open window is an invitation for a thief to steal your car. You should get into the habit of always locking your car and closing the windows when you leave it unattended. This can make all the difference when a car thief is looking for an easy car to steal.

4. Keep your keys hidden in your home

You don’t want to make things easy for a car thief, do you? If someone was to break into your home the first place that they will look for car keys is by the front door. By keeping your keys hidden in a draw, or in another area of the house you will be making it a little more challenging for them to steal your car.