Top 10 Vehicles Stolen in Burlington

Published April 5, 2018 at 6:31 pm

Stolen vehicles in Burlington are “a continuing concern,” say Halton police.

Stolen vehicles in Burlington are “a continuing concern,” say Halton police.

Between January 1 and April 5, 2018, there have been 60 reported vehicle thefts in the City of Burlington and nine attempted thefts.  

These are the top 10 vehicles stolen in Burlington:

1. Chevrolet Silverado – 2001-2006 (5)

2. GMC Yukon/Denali – 2003-2006 (4) 

3. Ford F250 – 2001-2006   (4) 

4. Ford F150 – 2012-2018   (3)

5. Ford Escape – 2009-2014 (3) 

6. Cadillac Escalade – 2002   (3) 

7.GMC Sierra – 2002-2006  (3) 

8. Jeep Liberty – 2000-2003  (3) 

9. Toyota Echo  – 2000-2005  (3) 

10. Chevrolet Tahoe – 2001-2004  (2) 

Anyone with information that can assist police in identifying persons responsible for stealing vehicles are encouraged to contact the Burlington criminal investigations bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2316.

Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.


Here are some prevention tips and background information from police.

Why Vehicles Are Stolen:

To sell them in their entirety or in parts. Note: Thieves may take stolen vehicles out of the province or even the country.

For transportation before they are abandoned

For use in other crimes such as robberies or break and enters

For sale under a false identification number to unsuspecting persons

As part of an insurance fraud. In these instances, the owners have the vehicle stolen and sold and take a portion of the sale money while filing a false claim with their insurance company

While there is no absolute guarantee against becoming a victim of vehicle theft, the Halton Regional Police Service offers the following series of precautions.


Parking:

Park in a well-lit and attended area, if possible, for your own safety as well as your car’s

Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running, even for a few seconds. Turn off the ignition and take the keys with you.

Always lock all of your vehicle’s doors and windows after entering and exiting it

Never leave personal identification or valuables in your vehicle. Lock all valuables in the trunk. Don’t tempt thieves by leaving packages, cameras, or purses in plain view or on the seat

Remove GPS navigation and cell phone devices from view when not in your vehicle

Mount CD and MP3 players inconspicuously

Engrave removable accessories such as stereos for easy identification

Turn the front wheels to one side to make it more difficult to tow


At Home:

If you have a garage, use it, and lock your car

If you have a front-wheel drive model, park it front end first

If you have a rear-wheel drive model, back it in

Always set the emergency brake

Never leave the original vehicle ownership or driver’s licence documents in the car

Drop a business card or address label down the panel doors to assist police with identifying the vehicle’s registered owner

Never hide a spare key in your car. Thieves know where to look.

Never leave an identification tag or address label on your key ring. Thieves may use it to locate your home or car.

Be aware of your surroundings while driving and keep all doors locked

When buying a vehicle privately, ensure the seller has the “Used Vehicle Information Package”


Invest in Vehicle Protection:

As an added deterrent to would-be auto thieves, you may wish to consider purchasing an anti-theft device(s) such as:

Ignition Kill Switch: Toggle switch spliced into a vehicle’s ignition that disables it. Only the key enables the vehicle to start.

Fuel Kill Switch: Switch spliced into a vehicle’s fuel system wiring that stops fuel supply to the engine

Steering Wheel Lock: Prevents a steering wheel from turning

Gearshift Lock: Disables shifting transmission

Hood Lock: Stops anyone from opening a vehicle’s hood

Steering Column Collar: Protects a vehicle’s steering column from ignition entry

Electronic Alarm: Those with “kill” switches are most effective

Vehicle Tracking System: Transmitter located in a vehicle that enables its location to be traced electronically


Record The Following In A Safe Place:

Year, make, model and colour of your vehicle

Licence and vehicle identification numbers

Serial numbers of any special equipment

Any dents or scratches that distinguish your vehicle from others


If Your Vehicle Is Stolen:

Report it immediately to the police

Provide police with identification or specific information about the vehicle and any valuables contained inside.

(Source: Halton Regional Police)

insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising