Vehicle theft is an unpleasant experience, both for individual motorists, as well as dealers and fleets. However, some vehicles are more prone to being stolen than others. Recently, the National Insurance Crime Bureau in the U.S., released findings on the most theft prone cars and trucks.
Topping the list were two older models, the 1994 Honda Accord and 1998 Honda Civic; however in third place was the 2006 Ford F-150, a popular vehicle in the late-model used market. Older cars are more likely to be targeted due to less sophisticated theft systems and ease of repair and parts interchangeability. Although that trend is changing. Joe Wehrle, president of the NICB, said that “while overall vehicle thefts continue to decline, we are seeing a trend toward the increases in thefts of late-model vehicles, ones that are theoretically harder to steal.”
A growing problem is that professional thieves appear to be gaining access to encrypted key codes instead of just breaking in and hot wiring a car as in the past.
As a result they’re more likely to steal a number of cars from the same location, such as dealerships. Several days ago in South Carolina, a prominent Chevrolet dealer had no fewer than five brand new Camaros stolen off the lot and out of the showroom in the small hours of the morning. Theft investigators uncovered evidence that the OnStar functions on each vehicle were disabled, while there were no visible signs of forced entry into the dealer’s premises.
The NICB warns that to help reduce the risk of theft, motorists and those in the trade should rely on layered protection instead of simply counting on smart-key technology when it comes to keeping cars and trucks secure.
Below is the list of the NICB’s 10 most stolen vehicles for 2012:
1. 1994 Honda Accord
2. 1998 Honda Civic
3. 2006 Ford F-150
4. 1991 Toyota Camry
5. 2000 Dodge Caravan
6. 1994 Acura Integra
7. 1999 Chevrolet Silverado
8. 2004 Dodge Ram
9. 2002 Ford Explorer
10. 1994 Nissan Sentra
