Here are the vehicles thieves in Hamilton are targeting most, police say
CBC
If you own a vehicle and live in Waterdown or Ancaster, Hamilton police say you may want to be on high alert.
The police service issued a media release Friday afternoon about a rise of overnight, high-end vehicle thefts in both areas.
Waterdown has seen a rise in thefts, particularly targeting 2018-2022 Honda CR-Vs, according to police.
In June, the top three stolen vehicles in Hamilton were Honda CR-V, Dodge Ram and Range Rover, police say.
The thieves tend to look for vehicles manufactured between 2016 and 2022.
Police say the most commonly stolen vehicles include:
Hamilton police say 195 of these vehicles have been reported stolen this year and say there's been a 57.8 per cent rise in these thefts compared to 2021.
Vehicle theft is becoming a growing issue across Ontario and Canada, with police services warning residents about a rise in thefts.
Police in Toronto, Windsor and York Region, for example, investigated schemes that saw hundreds of vehicles being stolen.
Ontario is also spending $51 million over three years to try to fight auto theft.
That money includes creating an organized crime and auto theft team led by the Ontario Provincial Police.
It also includes a grant for police services for extra tools, supports and resources to tackle auto theft, including technology to find and identify stolen vehicles, as well as for public awareness campaigns.
Police say there are several main reasons vehicles get stolen.
Thieves can sell the vehicle or parts out of the province or country.