If you've ever had your car stolen, you will no doubt understand the feeling of invasiveness that comes with the vehicle once it's been returned. The trick to avoiding a stolen car in the first place is proper storage and alarms.

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, more than $1 billion is spent each year in the way of police time, insurance claims and consumer losses. They also report that approximately 40 people die each year in Canada by stolen vehicles while another 65 are injured. The General Social Survey (of Canada) has accumulated data by Canadians who self-report crimes and they have noted that only 7 out of every 10 stolen vehicles are reported.

Each year, approximately 146,000 vehicles are stolen or, on average, about 400 cars a day go missing from their rightful owners. Of these 400 vehicles, 35 per cent are trucks while 54 per cent of them are cars and the remaining four per cent are vans and SUVs. In addition to the 146,000 stolen vehicles, another 2,500 vehicles get stolen during another crime, such as car-jackings and retail robberies.

It is important to realize that only 11 per cent of all vehicle thefts are ever solved. The fact is many of these thefts occur during the nighttime hours where witnesses are scarce. As well, they are often committed by young or juvenile people. If you are curious to see where on the list of stolen vehicles you car or truck ranks, here is a list put out by the Insurance Bureau of Canada on the top ten most stolen vehicles.

1. 1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
2. 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
3. 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX/WRX STi 4-door AWD
4. 1999 Acura Integra 2-door
5. 1994 Dodge/Plymouth Grand Caravan/Voyager
6. 1994 Dodge/Plymouth Grand Caravan/Voyager AWD
7. 1994 Dodge/Plymouth Caravan/Voyager
8. 1998 Acura Integra 2-door
9. 2000 Audi TT Quattro 2-door Coupe
10. 1994 Dodge/Plymouth Shadow/Sundance 2-door Hatchback
Source: Insurance Bureau of Canada, 2007

Installing a proper, working alarm system is an extremely important element in avoiding vehicles thefts, but if installing an alarm is not in your budget there are other steps you can take to help prevent the theft of your vehicle. Steps such as being sure to lock all your doors and roll up your windows, parking in your home's garage (if you have one) and parking in a well lit area, if you park on the street are a few things that, although they won't guarantee theft prevention, can improve your chances of not having your car stolen.