Did Your Car Make This Surprising List?


Every year, the National Insurance Crime Bureau releases a list of the most-stolen cars for the prior year.

The “hottest” cars of 2013 are both Hondas. Specifically, the Honda Accord and the Honda Civic, which top the list of the most-stolen vehicles, with the Accord racking up an impressive 53,995 cars stolen, and the Civic coming in second, with a respectable 45,001 stolen.

Following the two Honda models comes two full-size American pickups. Chevrolet came in at a total of 27,809 stolen in 2013, with Ford following closely at a total of 26,494 stolen.

The number of cars stolen includes all years. Strangely enough, the newer a car, the less likely it is to be stolen. For example – of those nearly 54,000 Honda Accords stolen, only 273 were 2013 models. If only newer cars that are stolen get taken into consideration, neither the Honda Accord or the Civic even break the top ten. When it comes to 2013 models, the numbers are very different. The most stolen 2013 car is the Nissan Altima, with a total of 810 stolen, followed by the Ford Fusion, Ford F-Series truck and the Toyota Corolla.

(See complete lists below.)

The good news is that the total number of cars stolen is declining. FBI data projects a 3.2% reduction in vehicle theft for 2013, making 2013 the lowest number of car thefts in a year since 1967. It would also mean that there has been a reduction in car theft of more than 50% since it peaked in 1991, when more than 1.6 million total cars were stolen.

Joe Wehrle, CEO and president of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), stated: “”The drop in thefts is good news for all of us.” But, as he also added:

“It still amounts to a vehicle being stolen every 45 seconds and losses of over $4 billion a year. That’s why we applaud the vehicle manufacturers for their efforts to improve anti-theft technology and pledge to continue to work with our insurance company members and law enforcement to identify and seek vigorous prosecution of the organized criminal rings responsible for so many of these thefts.”

So what can you do to protect your car? The NICB recommends the following four “layers of protection” against theft:

Common Sense – Lock your car and take your keys.
Warning Device – Visible as well as audible warning devices, like alarms, are theft deterrents.
Immobilizing Device – If your vehicle can’t be started, it can’t be stolen. Consider devises such as “kill” switches, fuel cut-offs and smart keys. These devices are probably the single biggest factor in defeating car thieves since the late 1990s.
Tracking Device – Newer vehicles incorporate GPS-based tracking devices that emit a signal to police or to a security network, pinning down the progress or location of a stolen vehicle. These systems can also be installed as aftermarket devices, as well.

Most Stolen Cars in 2013 Totals:
1. Honda Accord (53,995)
2. Honda Civic (45,001)
3. Chevrolet pickup, full size (27,809)
4. Ford pickup, full size (26,494)
5. Toyota Camry (14,420)
6. Dodge pickup, full size (11,347)
7. Dodge Caravan (10,911)
8. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee (9,272)
9. Toyota Corolla (9,010)
10. Nissan Altima (8,892)

Most Stolen Model Year Cars in 2013 Totals:
1. Nissan Altima (810)
2. Ford Fusion (793)
3. Ford F-150 (775)
4. Toyota Corolla (669)
5. Chevrolet Impala (654)
6. Hyundai Elantra (541)
7. Dodge Charger (536)
8. Chevrolet Malibu (529)
9. Chevrolet Cruze (499)
10. Ford Focus (483)

[Image via Valdosta Today]

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