America's Most Stolen Vehicles

[Juan Tamad]

In the latest study about the most stolen vehicles in America, the popular 2000 Honda Civic was the top pick among thieves during the 2003 calendar year, according to the "Hot Wheels" report released in February 2005 by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). '

"In 2003, 1,260,471 motor vehicles were reported stolen at an estimated value of over $8 billion. With recovery rates hovering near the 65 percent mark, that leaves a tremendous number of vehicles that are either cut up for parts, exported to other countries, or reappear as clones, the latest trend in an ever-expanding list of fraud schemes," said Robert M. Bryant, president and CEO of the NICB.

The most recent NICB report listed the 1989 Toyota Camry as the second most stolen vehicle, followed by the 1991 Honda Accord.

In fourth position, the 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 pickup was both the highest listed pickup and the first domestic-branded vehicle, followed by the 1994 Dodge Caravan and the 1997 Ford F-150.

The NICB encourages everyone to follow what it calls a "layered approach" to auto theft protection by employing simple, low-cost suggestions to make vehicles less attractive to thieves. The four layers include Common Sense, Warning Device, Immobilizing Device, and Tracking Device.

The least expensive form of defense, common sense simply means using the standard safety features of a vehicle by locking the car and taking the keys. The second layer is a warning device or alarm on the vehicle.

The third layer takes suggests some sort of immobilizing device, such as a fuel cutoff or smart key that prevents the vehicle from being driven, and the fourth layer consists of a tracking device allowing law enforcement officers to track and recover a vehicle if stolen.

The NICB study is based on information reported to the National Crime Information Center, and it's one of three reports that list the most stolen cars in America.

Most Stolen, Based on Insurance Theft Loss
The luxurious Cadillac Escalade EXT pickup truck topped the list of the most recent study by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), which looks at the insurance theft losses reported for one- to three-year-old vehicles.

The Escalade EXT and Nissan Maxima, which is second on the HLDI list, have theft claim rates seven to eight times higher than the average for all cars. "This is the second year in a row that an Escalade is among the vehicles most likely to have a theft claim," said Kim Hazelbaker, HLDI senior vice president. "Both the Escalade pickup and SUV also top the list of vehicles with the most expensive theft claims, indicating they are top targets for thieves."

One of the likely reasons for the Escalade's popularity among thieves is the propensity for owners to outfit the big Cadillacs with expensive wheel packages, some costing as much as $10,000. Where wheels are popular on the Escalade, the Nissan Maxima's theft rate climbed dramatically in 2002 when the company made expensive high-intensity discharge headlights part of the car's standard equipment.

"Investigators tell us the high-intensity discharge headlights are often stolen because they fit into earlier Maximas that were sold without such lights," Hazelbaker said. "This car was redesigned for 2004, and its new headlight assemblies don't fit previous generation models. It's too early to tell if the 2004s will still have a theft problem."

A Report Based on Thefts Compared to Registered Vehicles
The 1995 Saturn SL received the dubious honor of being listed as the most stolen vehicle of 2003, according to the most recent stolen vehicle report from CCC Information Services Inc. (CCC).

The CCC report found that one out of every two hundred 1995 Saturn SLs registered was stolen during 2003. The 1998 Acura Integra and the 1994 Saturn SL were second and third on the list.

The 2003 stolen vehicle report from CCC Information Services Inc. is based on the rate of theft for a vehicle as a percentage of the total number of that vehicle registered. CCC analyzes total loss claims received from more than 350 property and casualty insurers in North America and compares the number of vehicles stolen and not recovered against vehicle registration volume information provided by R.L. Polk & Co., to determine the rate of theft.

CCC changed the method of determining the most stolen vehicles for the 2003 study, basing the report on the theft rate rather than the number of thefts, which had skewed the report toward the most popular models. CCC is a technology provider to the automotive claims and repair industry.

CCC does not include vehicles stolen for joyrides or otherwise recovered and returned to their owners, but only vehicles stolen and deemed a total loss, or never recovered. A vehicle is considered a total loss when the cost to repair it approaches or exceeds the value of the vehicle.

"Six Acura Integras with consecutive model years (1994-1999) account for six of the top eight spots," according to Mary Jo Prigge, CCC's president of sales and service, an effect referred to as "clustering."

"We cannot determine the exact reason thieves prefer some vehicles over others, but our data suggests some cars are stolen for the value of their parts, which may explain why we often see a 'clustering' effect with same make and model vehicles from sequential model year," explained Prigge.

In contrast, the CCC identifies the most stolen vehicles by analyzing the total losses submitted to it by more than 350 property and casualty insurers in North America

[20vanda01]

Ano kaya meron sa 1989 Toyota Camry?

[luckytruck]

i think that they should group cars in years where body styles and parts are the same. for example, (esample lang ha) they should combine all gen 2 and 2.5 pajeros. and all civics from 1996 to 2000, yung after the esi model. yung ganun ba, so we get a better picture f what car theirves are after. di lang na one specific year.

andy

[OTEP]

The most stolen used to be the Olds Cutlass Supreme (another old car) because it was easy to part out.

Same case with the Camry and Accord.