The Most Stolen Cars In America
When the annual National Insurance Crime Bureau rankings came out there was a familiar name at the top of the list of cars most frequently stolen—Honda Accord. The other names were familiar too—Toytota Camry, Ford F150 and Honda Civic--as thieves like cars and trucks that are made in huge quantities as it makes them harder to pin down if they are left whole, and easier to pedal parts that are in such huge demand for high volume vehicles.
Why Newer Cars Are Being Pinched
But there was a new wrinkle in this year's report. Thieves have been pinching newer vehicles than in past years even though newer cars and trucks are more likely to have anti-theft systems. Turns out some of the new technology makes it even easier for tech-savvy thieves to make off with your new wheels.
Keys with embedded micro-chips that require a matching code from the vehicle and tracking technologies such as LoJack or General Motors’ OnStar are making new cars more vulnerable. The NICB says the thieves have been finding ways to crack those codes. Technology, it turns out, can be beaten by technology. Remember the film The Italian Job? There isn’t much that a sophisticated hacker with a laptop and the know-how can’t do.
Tips To Deter Thieves
Earlier this year, law enforcement arrested a car-theft ring in New York City that had used an inside source at a car dealership to make coded keys right outside the showroom at curbside and drive away cars at the dealership. In Europe, thieves have been making off with BMWs by re-programming cars through the data-access port that mechanics use to diagnose problems.
The best tips to keep your car safe are these: Make sure your car is always locked when you are not driving it; never leave valuables in plain sight on the seats or in the console; never leave the valet key in the car in plain sight; consider adding a mechanical theft deterrent, such as "The Club"; park your car in well-lit, locked places like parking garages.
Check out the list of most stolen cars and see if yours is on it.
9. Ford Explorer
Back around 1999 to 2002, Ford sold a heckuva lot of Explorers that took the place of minivans and station wagons with many buyers. The 2002 model is the one that made the top-ten list. The Explorer today sold by Ford is much different than the old one. The 2012 Explorer, a crossover now instead of a truck-based body-on-frame SUV, is more fuel efficient and a far better daily driver than the old model.
Check out the new Ford Explorer.
7. Chevy Silverado
The Chevy Silverado shares all its parts with the GMC Sierra, which makes GM the number-one overall pickup seller. Thieves love these vehicles that are sold in huge volume.
Check out the new Silverado.
5. Dodge Caravan
The 2000 caravan that is on the most-stolen list was by far the best selling minivan of that era, and the van shares parts with Chrysler Town & Country. Check out the new Town & Country and Caravan, which has the most popular minivan feature in the category--Stow-and-Go seating, which allows both the second row and third row of seats to fold away into the floor.
Check out the new Dodge Grand Caravan.
3. Ford F-150
The Ford F1-50 is the top selling vehicle in the U.S. every year. Parts for the F-150 are especially in demand in the black market.
Check out the new Ford F-150.
1. Honda Accord
It is one of the top selling cars every year, which makes it a good target for thieves. Also, Honda uses the parts from the Accord in a lot of other vehicles, which makes them all the more marketable on the black market. The model year that made number-one on the list is the 1994 model. Honda launched an all-new Accord last Fall. Let's hope the new design is harder to break into.
Check out the new Honda Accord.