More than 1,200 vehicles have been stolen in Ottawa this year, a 16 per cent jump from the year before, with new model SUVs and light trucks the most popular targets. New model Toyota Rav4 , Honda CRV, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford F-Series trucks are especially popular, along with any vehicle with a push-button starter.

Police have recovered 315 stolen vehicles and made 80 arrests, Stubbs said.

“It used to be five or 10 years ago that older cars were the target because they didn’t have the advanced alarm security that the new cars have. But the technology that they (thieves) are securing is defeating a lot of those alarms.”