Late last year the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released statistics on the most stolen cars in America. For those who purchased one of these cars on the list, it is a good news bad news scenario.
The good news is your car is very popular and in demand. The bad news is your car is very popular and in demand not only with the buying public, but with car thieves too. So which cars topped the NICB list for stolen cars?
How the List Was DoneThe data the NICB used to determine which models were the most frequently stolen cars in America was gathered from reports and statistics provided by law enforcement administrators during the year of 2013. The complete results for 2014 have not been officially compiled yet.
Although logic dictates that most of the stolen cars will fall into the import category, the surprise in the data showed that it was actually a 50/50 split between imported cars and cars made in the USA.
And the Winner (or Loser) Is...The Honda Accord tops the list of the most stolen car in America. This dubious distinction is partially due to the Honda Accord’s ability to keep on running year after year.
Because these models have many interchangeable parts, regardless of the year the cars were produced, cheap spare parts have a high demand in the gray market.
Almost 40,000 Honda Accords were stolen during the year 2013, of which many were stripped down to their essential parts, which were then sold to shady repair shops, junk yards, or online sites.
The top five stolen cars were the Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Chevrolet pickups (full size), Ford Pickups (full size), and the perennial favorite, the Toyota Camry.
The Story ChangesFor cars that were made during 2013, the statistics change dramatically. The previous list was for models stolen, regardless of what year they were made. This second list is for cars manufactured during 2013, or in other words current models for the year.
For this list the Nissan Altima takes the top spot for the most desirable car to be stolen. Coming in second place was a big surprise; the Ford Fusion hybrid. Taking up third place was any Ford pickup (full size). Toyota’s Corolla came in fourth, and bringing up the rear was the Chevrolet Impala.
It’s interesting to note that although the Honda Accord made the top of the list where the car year car model wasn't a factor, it didn’t even make it into the top ten for current year model statistics.
Out of the top 10 for this list, domestic cars took seven out of the 10 spots.
How Deter Car TheftCar thieves have only a few seconds to determine whether a particular car is a candidate for stealing or not. This assessment is first determined by the desirability of the car. If the car is in popular demand, it will be a likely target to be stolen.
But other factors determine if a car is suitable to be taken or not. Thieves are more likely to choose a car that has items in full view such as packages, backpacks, wallets, or shopping bags. Given two identical models sitting next to each other, they’ll go with the car full of junk most of the time because it is more inviting.
Installing a car alarm is OK, but studies show that many people ignore a car alarm. Unless the thief is very nervous or paranoid, a car alarm just means a minor setback.
Some people rely on anti-theft location devices such as Lo-Jack or OnStar to track a car that is stolen. While these services and devices won’t stop your car from being snatched, it gives you the ability to find your car after it is stolen.
Source:
Motor Trend