Top 10 Stolen Cars
Determining which cars are the most likely targets of auto theft is a bit complicated. There are several ways that reporting agencies have to determine the top 10 stolen car lists and record keeping always runs a few years behind.
One list of the top 10 stolen cars in the United States put out by a major insurance company lists the 1991 Honda Accord right on the top. Other lists have the 1989 Toyota Camry on top. Most data is good for the year 2005. The Insurance company list has the ’89 Camry third behind the 1995 Honda Civic. Although the insurance companies just put out the list without much speculation on the reasons, it is evident these leaders are targeted because they are easy to sell. With rising gas prices, smaller cars become the choice. There are more of them and demand is high.
The Ford F150 and the 2004 Dodge Ram Pick-up trucks make the top 10 list at numbers 6 and 10 respectively. In their case, it is demand and not necessarily economy that motivates targeting them. The 1994 Dodge Caravan is 4th with the 1994 Nissan Sentra in 5th place. The 1990 Acura Integra is the first upscale vehicle on the list at 7th place. Another pickup, the 1986 Toyota, makes the list at number 8. The 1993 Saturn SL rounds out the top ten at number 9.
Another way used to determine stats on car theft frequency is the listing by number of claims processed. When this method is used the Cadillac Escalade 4 door with 4 wheel drive is the winner, or loser, depending on your perspective. Also eight times as many claims are filed on this vehicle as the second place car. This is obviously a reflection of the cost of this vehicle. It is interesting to note that the car with the lowest claims filed number is the popular Ford Taurus.
A third way use to arrive at a top ten list is to compare the number of thefts to the number of vehicles registered. In some ways, it can be seen that this method is more likely to give you more cause to worry than the gross theft method. After all, there is a lot of 1991 Honda Accords out there. Even if a lot of them are getting nabbed, the odds still favor you being safe. The winner in the registered to swiped list is the 2001 BMW M Roadster. If you are one of the lucky minority to own this baby, you might want to sleep in it. It is sure to be on the auto thief’s hit list.
In the end, the car that you most want to protect from theft is the one you own regardless of brand. It seems like a lose/lose deal. If you go with an expensive car, it will be stolen because it is an expensive and tempting target. If you get an older, less expensive vehicle, it will get targeted because it is easy to sell and the demand for parts is high. Auto theft is a national problem that impacts everyone because of the high insurance rates we all must pay to cover the losses. Following practical common sense guidelines to deter theft make good sense for everyone regardless of their make of vehicle.