On August 2, the National Insurance Crime Bureau released Hot Wheels, its report that lists the top 10 most stolen cars in America in 2010, and it appears as though car thieves prefer Hondas, Dodges, and Fords.
After examining vehicle theft data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), the report determined the vehicle make, model, and model year of the most stolen cars reported in 2010.
For 2010, the most stolen cars in America were:
- 1994 Honda Accord
- 1995 Honda Civic
- 1991 Toyota Camry
- 1999 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)
- 1997 Ford F150 Series/Pickup
- 2004 Dodge Ram
- 2000 Dodge Caravan
- 1994 Acura Integra
- 2002 Ford Explorer
- 1999 Ford Taurus
Looking at the list, you may notice that the newest model among the most stolen cars is actually seven years old, dating back to 2004. This may relate to the fact that the NICB report is the only report that analyzes all theft data regardless of a vehicle’s insured status, to provide a more complete view of the vehicle theft landscape. According to the report, some thieves prefer certain models of older cars and trucks because of the value of their parts—but many aren’t insured against theft. On the other hand, newer, more expensive and insured vehicles are often stolen to be shipped out of the country or to be resold intact with counterfeit vehicle identification numbers.
Most Stolen Car Trends
For the first time since 2002, the report indicated that car thieves opted for domestic makes over foreign brands, with Ford, Dodge, and Chevrolet accounting for six of the 10 top slots. Honda, Toyota, and Acura filled the remaining positions, with Honda and Toyota claiming the top three spots, a trend that has remained consistent since 2000.
Fortunately for drivers, car theft continues declining, with preliminary 2010 FBI crime statistics pointing toward a 7.2 percent reduction from the thefts reported in 2009. If these numbers hold when the FBI releases its final statistics later this year, the NICB reports that 2010 will post the fewest car thefts since 1967.
What’s The Reason for The Decline in Stolen Cars?
Improved technology is the main factor to which the NICB report points to explain the decrease in stolen cars in recent years. For instance, among the nearly 52,000 Honda Accords stolen in 2010, more than 44,000 were manufactured in the 1990s, as opposed to fewer than 5,700 produced in the year 2000 or later.
Protect Your Car Against Theft
Even though car theft is on the decline, it’s always important to be protected, and the best form of protection against theft is car insurance. At Eaton & Berube, we work to find you the best New Hampshire car insurance rates. For more information on personal auto insurance and business auto insurance, as well as additional insurance and safety information, please subscribe to our blog or contact us.
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