Good Or Bad News?: Acura Integra Popular With Thieves in U.S.

ARLINGTON, Va., May 15 Reuters reported yesterday that owners of Honda's Acura Integra are eight times more likely than the average vehicle owner to have their car stolen, according to U.S. insurance data released on Wednesday.

A big reason for the car's popularity among thieves is that the Integra's parts can be used to upgrade the less expensive Honda Civic, which is built on the same frame.

While other cars, like the Toyota Camry and the Ford Taurus are stolen in greater numbers in the United States, there are many more of them than the luxury Integra so their theft-rate per owner is much lower.

The Virginia-based Highway Loss Data Institute reported that two- and four-door Integras had the most-frequent theft claims per owner among 1999-2001 models.

Its frequency of 21.7 claims per 1,000 insured vehicles, was more than eight times the average for all cars and more than 2-1/2 times higher than the next highest vehicle, Chrysler's Jeep Wrangler.

The Integra has been on the data institute's "10 Worst List" for car thefts for five straight years.

Beginning with 2000 models, Honda started to equip the Integra with antitheft devices that would immobilize the vehicle if the wrong key were used or if thieves tried to "hot wire" it.

Nevertheless, data institute senior vice president Kim Hazelbaker said car thieves can find ways around the mechanical stops or just move the car without starting it up.

"A common scenario is that they are hauled away and worked on in some shop," Hazelbaker said. The problem is not limited to any specific U.S. region.

Integra is built on a Honda Civic platform so its parts, including its bigger engine, can be easily installed in that vehicle. It also has luxury features, like leather seats, that also can be used to customize a Civic, Hazelbaker said.