Yahoo Autos The most-stolen cars in America, and how to avoid being a victim of auto theft
Car thefts are a growing problem in the United States. As vehicle values and the cost of parts increase, thieves are increasingly incentivized to steal and resell or part-out popular models. The National Insurance Crime Bureau released its annual Hot Wheels theft report for 2021, and the most popular stolen vehicles will surprise no one.
Most stolen cars of 2021:
Chevrolet pickup (full-size): 48,206 total thefts
Ford pickup (full-size): 47,999 total thefts
Honda Civic: 31,673 total thefts
Honda Accord: 30,274 total thefts
Toyota Camry: 17,270 total thefts
GMC pickup (full-size): 15,599 total thefts
Nissan Altima: 14,108 total thefts
Honda CR-V: 13,308 total thefts
Jeep Cherokee / Grand Cherokee: 13,210 total thefts
Toyota Corolla: 12,927 total thefts
Chevrolet and Ford full-size trucks top the list, just as they did in 2020, and are joined by a who’s-who of popular sedans, trucks and SUVs. Many of the vehicles on the list are from the early 2000s, which tracks with the statistics from law enforcement. The Sacramento Bee recently interviewed members of the California Highway Patrol, who noted that older vehicles with turnkey ignition systems are favored because of the ease with which a thief can start them. Compare the list of early-2000s cars with the most popular models on the road, and it’s easy to see why Chevy and Ford pickup trucks from 2004 and 2006 were the most stolen vehicles nationally in 2001.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau’s research backs up that theory, stating that a vehicle’s popularity and relative availability on the streets contribute to them being stolen. The numbers are staggering, with the two full-size pickup trucks reaching nearly 50,000 thefts in 2021. The Honda Civic came in third with just over 30,000 thefts, and the Toyota Camry rounded out the top five with around 17,000.
Read more: How to replace a lost or stolen car title
Another major contributor to the problem could be the ongoing supply chain shortages that have made new and used vehicles more expensive. Inventory shortages and sustained high demand have made all used vehicles more expensive, so it’s tempting for thieves to steal and export cars and trucks for disassembly in other countries. They can also be broken down for parts, which are growing in cost.
