Some vehicles are more attractive to thieves than others, and according to the National Bureau of Insurance Crimes, their favorite vehicles are the full-size Ford pickup and the compact-size Civic 2020. The NICB also indicates that the most stolen model year is 2018. Approximately 47,859 thefts happened across the United States in 2019.
The most common model years for the F-Series and Civic are 2006 and 2000 according to the “Hot Wheels” report based on data from the National Center for Crime Information. After the workhorse and the Japanese passenger car, thieves also like the Chevrolet Silverado, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Toyota Corolla, Dodge and Ram and GMC Sierra.
Only one sport utility vehicle is in the top ten. More than 10,094 Honda CR-V thefts were reported in 2019, and the year of 2001 recorded the most cases. The National Office of Insurance Crimes has four recommendations for car owners and renters to avoid vehicle thefts, starting with “common sense”.
It makes sense not to leave the key in the ignition when getting out of the car, and the same can be said for closing doors and windows. Parking in a well-lit area is also a good idea, especially if there is a CCTV camera in the area.
NICB recommends a warning device as a second layer of protection against thieves, and this category includes just about everything from audible alarms and steering column clamps, wheel locks, brakes, VIN etching and the identification markers on the car. An immobilizer, such as a fuse cutter or ignition circuit breaker, should be on your priority list if thefts are common in your neighborhood.
Last but not least, consider a tracking device. By combining GPS and wireless technologies, a tracker allows the owner to monitor the vehicle remotely at any time. Modern, high-quality trackers also send an alert to the owner's phone when the vehicle is moved without their consent, and knowing the location in real time makes it easier for the police to stop the bad guys and the car for recovery.
