Does Your Car Top Thieves' Holiday Shopping Lists?
14 November 2000
Does Your Car Top Thieves' Holiday Shopping Lists?
LOS ANGELES--Nov. 14, 2000--If consumers crave a particular car, it's likely that thieves do, too.A new study from the National Insurance Crime Bureau found that the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry remain the top cars targeted by thieves, but -- much like sales trends -- minivans, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks have gained popularity among thieves.
The NICB list of the top 50 most frequently stolen vehicles includes 15 pickup trucks, minivans and SUVs.
"Thieves' tastes in cars mirror those of auto buyers -- they target the most popular vehicles because they can make the most money off their stolen parts," said Candysse Miller, executive director of the Insurance Information Network of California.
Though theft statistics vary by city, the top 10 stolen vehicles nationally last year were:
1. Honda Accord
2. Toyota Camry
3. Oldsmobile Cutlass
4. Chevrolet Full-Size Pickup
5. Honda Civic
6. Toyota Corolla
7. Jeep Cherokee
8. Chevrolet Caprice
9. Ford Taurus
10. Chevrolet Cavalier
"The study confirms the growing popularity of pickups, minivans and SUVs on a national basis among thieves," said Robert M. Bryant, president and chief executive officer, National Insurance Crime Bureau. "Vehicle thieves follow market trends and target the most popular vehicles because they provide the best market for stolen vehicle parts and illegal export to other countries."
He also pointed out that there are city-by-city differences in consumer vehicle preference that affect which vehicles are targeted by thieves in an individual metropolitan area. For example, American cars are more attractive to thieves in cities such as Chicago, while pickups are more frequently stolen in Dallas. In the Los Angeles area, thieves frequently target Japanese models.
People residing in or near port and border communities -- such as the large California markets of Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco -- should take special care to protect their vehicles, Bryant warned.
In Los Angeles and Sacramento, thieves' top four vehicles of choice include Accords, Camrys, Honda Civics and Toyota pickups. Fresno-area thieves target the Chevy full-size pickup and the Oldsmobile Cutlass as well as the Accord and Camry.
A vehicle is stolen every 23 seconds in the United States. Almost one-third are never recovered. To reduce the risk of auto theft, IINC recommends that motorists always remove the keys from the ignition and vehicle, lock the doors, close the windows, hide valuable items, park in well-lit areas and use a combination of anti-theft devices.
A recent study found that cars equipped with steering-wheel locks were four times less likely to be stolen.
Motorists driving theft-prone vehicles should add layers of protection against theft: The more layers, the more difficult it is to steal the car.
For information about auto theft in California, or for interviews about how auto-theft trends can affect insurance rates, contact the Insurance Information Network of California, a nonprofit and nonlobbying insurance communications organization. IINC has spokespeople available in Northern and Southern California to discuss this and other insurance issues.
