Here's a full transcript of the episode.
Rob Carnie: It can happen to anybody at time of the year. It happens during this time of year in the cold, when you're warming up your car and it's not locked. Car theft. And these days fraud is coming into play with car thefts. And here to discuss that, it's Greg Marcyniuk, at Heritage Insurance in Moose Jaw. Greg, this is trending in the wrong direction.
Greg Marcyniuk: That's correct, Rob, but these thieves are getting a lot more smarter. One of the things that they're doing now, they're reinventing these stolen vehicles, and that's where these thieves go out. They put in a new VIN on the front dash and then sell to unsuspecting customers. And it's increasing all the time. Another continuing trend includes rising electronic auto theft across the country as more vehicles are getting fancier, they have the technology like push button starts, and high end SUVs continue to be the stolen product for export.
Now, how can a consumer protect themselves? There's a couple ways. First of all, Carfax allows you to check VINs to ensure the vehicle history drives to compare with the electronic records and hard copies. And make sure that that hard copy has not been manipulated whatsoever. Also, while you can go online to the Canadian Police Information Center's website, allows consumers to look at VINs to see if the vehicle is on file as stolen.
Now, very important here because if you become a victim on this, you're actually becoming double victimized, because if you buy that vehicle and it's determined to be stolen, that vehicle will be seized. And not only will you be without your vehicle, Rob, you'll also not get your money back. So very important that you do this. Another trend that is on, high-end SUVs continue to be stolen again, as I've said earlier for export. You know, in Saskatchewan, a lot of people get their vehicle stolen as you had said earlier with their cars, and then people go for a joy ride. But most people with these high end vehicles, they are being exported or stripped down for parts and then sold.
Rising electronic theft is another concern. And thieves can conduct relay attracts by trying to intercept the radio frequency from your key fob, and the fob can get reprogrammed on a new vehicle. So to protect yourself, it's best to leave them away from the front of your home, put them in a drawer, or if you have a metal box of any sort, if you want them close, put it in there. And then that way it'll diminish the radio frequency emitted from the fob. Another electronic method that they're starting to use, and we're seeing it a lot more, is what they call relay attacks, and it's through an OBD port.
This involves actually where the person breaks into your car, in the onboard diagnostic system port and reprogram a key fob on the vehicle. As far as the number one stolen vehicles in the last year, 2018 Ford F150, F253, F350, F450 series, the number two was a Honda CRV series 2018, it's an SUV. The number three was a Chevrolet GMC Silverado Sierra 1525, 3500. And the year of that was 2005. That's a pickup. A Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, 3500 series. The 2019 was the number one pickup. And number five is the Lexus RX 50 and RX 350, 2019. And that's an SUV. So, if you have these vehicles just to really keep a close eye on.
Rob Carnie: Yeah, I think you probably just sparked some people saying, "Oh, I've got one of those. What do they do next?"
Greg Marcyniuk: I would say, as I'd said earlier, make sure that you have the keys away. Make sure you lock your vehicles up properly, or park them in the garage.
Rob Carnie: Okay. And this information in detail is on the website.
Greg Marcyniuk: That's correct, heritageinsurance.ca or you can call us here at +1 800-667-7640.
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