While every vehicle is at risk of being stolen, some thieves intent on reselling cars and trucks target specific makes and models. In the first few months of 2023, trucks have climbed to the top of some North American cities. Why? Because there seems to be a demand for them abroad.
Are Ram trucks stolen often?
In late February 2023, some municipalities—such as Toronto—reported a sharp increase in Ram pickup truck thefts. This may be due to increased demand abroad and increased exposure of the Ram to the latest technology used by thieves.
It is one of the most stolen cars.
But thieves looking to resell a car focus on what’s most common on the black market. Based in Toronto, he reveals that one of the most popular cars to steal, ship abroad, and resell is currently the Ram pickup. In the Toronto area alone, more than 130 Ram minivans have already been reported stolen in 2023.
Why are stolen Ram trucks popular abroad? Where are they all shipped? CTV did not provide any other insights; Your guess is as good as ours. Last year, the Lexus 350 series was one of the hottest items in the stolen car market. The Toyota Highlander is a perennial favorite that is somehow seeing an increase in thefts.
Is it easy to steal ram trucks?
There is no modern pickup truck easy to steal. But Ford and General Motors recently redesigned their pickup trucks more than the Ram, incorporating the latest anti-theft features.
Sergeant Dave Phillips of the South Simcoe Police Department told CTV News, “Looks like looters are getting pretty sophisticated.” He cited the proliferation of computerized “modern convenience features,” which make current generations of some vehicles, such as the Ram truck, more vulnerable than previous generations.
Claudio Poppa is a cybersecurity expert who went even further, describing modern cars as “computers on wheels.” He said the increasing number of car thefts was a series of cyber attacks and urged automakers to tackle it in this way. “One of the major problems today is that manufacturers are not keeping up with the security vulnerabilities.”
One advanced technique used by thieves is called a “paging attack” and involves using a high-tech repeater to broadcast the signal from a keychain left by the front door to a truck parked in a nearby driveway.
Car thefts are increasing
Ram trucks are far from being the only target for increased car thefts. CTV added that thefts rose 45% in 2023, with an average of 32 cars stolen in Toronto each day.
Stellantis–Ram’s parent company said, “While such occurrences are rare, they are not exclusive to any make or model of vehicle… We are engaged in continuous product improvement (and) urge all motorists to exercise due diligence in securing their cars.”
Next, find out who they are and how they steal cars, or watch CTV’s report on the rise in Ram thefts in the video below:
