According to the most recent Federal Bureau of Investigation, a thief stole a vehicle ever 42.2 seconds in the United States in 2018. That’s roughly $6.3 billion worth of cars and trucks! Are you driving one of the most stolen cars in the U.S.? Read on to find out and discover how to prevent car theft!
Chop Shopped
So what are the most stolen cars in the U.S.? Well, by fear, thieves snag sedans and pickup trucks more than any other type of vehicle. However, specifically, one car takes the rather-unwanted cake. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Honda Civics are the most stolen vehicles in the United States. Believe it or not, criminals took a total of 38,426 Civics in 2018 alone! Specifically, thieves seemed to target Civic models from the years 2000-2005.
In fact, older cars are also more targeted in general. That’s because older cars are much easier to chop and sell for parts. Contrary to popular belief, they do not merely steal the car and drive off, taking it for their new ride. Neither do thieves typically sell cars whole. For instance, the second most stolen car in the U.S., another Honda, the Accord, is regularly stolen and stripped of just its airbags! Still, some braver and most sophisticated criminals will go after newer models…
Newer Targets
As you might imagine, newer cars are not immune to thieves and vandalizers. Another popular vehicle for criminals to go after is the 2018 GMC Sierra full-size pickup. In 2018, nearly 1,200 of this exact make and model were snatched from owners by thieves! Meanwhile, a new Dodge Challenger also made the list, getting picked up by criminals 5.4 times more than the average car. While it’s typically harder to sell a car whole, some thieves manage to do so, with a reliable source. As a result, these rarer criminals tend to go after new cars.
Other newer vehicles that make the most stolen list include Infiniti QX50 4-door, Infiniti QX80, GMC Sierra 1500 crew-cab, Dodge Challenger, Nissan Maxima, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew-cab, Chrysler 300 four-wheel-drive, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4-door long-wheelbase four-wheel-drive. Of newer vehicles, pickup trucks seem to get snagged by criminals more often!
Least Stolen Cars and Tips
So, there are plenty of unsafe vehicles out there. However, are there any safe ones? Yes! The harder your car is to strip, the less likely it is to become stolen, as stated. As such, thieves tend to stay away from cars like the Tesla Models S and X, as they do not have parts that are usable in most other vehicles. Meanwhile, many charging stations have security cameras or reside in homes, making stealing electric cars more dangerous in general. So not only are electric cars better for the environment, but they are also less likely to be stolen!
However, you can also do some things to lower the chance of having to deal with auto theft, overall! “If you’re shopping, be sure to place your packages in the trunk before you leave where you’re shopping and not at your next destination. Thieves will be watching, and you’ll be telling them that there’s something valuable in your car,” said Jim Schweitzer, the NICB’s chief operating officer.