Most Stolen Cars

[steinravnik]

Most Stolen Cars



Once again, the 1995 Honda Civic was the most stolen car in America, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, but auto theft appears to have declined dramatically for the fourth year in a row.

In its annual "Hot Wheels" report, the NICB said the '95 Civic was followed by the '91 Honda Accord, the '89 Toyota Camry and the '97 Ford F-150 as the nation's most stolen cars in 2007. The top four on the list are unchanged from 2006. For the fourth year in a row, the '95 Civic has been in the top 10.

But overall vehicle theft dropped 8.9% in 2007, according to the FBI's preliminary Uniform Crime Report. Incidences of auto theft have declined nationally every year since 2004.

"The continuing national decrease in vehicle theft is a positive sign that the fight against vehicle theft by law enforcement, the insurance industry and the NICB continues to be effective," said Robert M. Bryant, NICB's chief executive in a statement.

License plate readers, "bait cars," and increased law enforcement funding have helped to dampen auto theft too, but the most effective and simplest way to prevent cars from being stolen is for owners to lock their doors.

"It's amazing to see how many folks get their cars stolen from leaving their keys in them," said NICB spokesman Frank Scafidi. "People should just use some basic common sense."

In addition to using car locks, owners can take a wide array of measures to protect their vehicles, NICB said. The bureau recommends car alarms, "kill switches," and fuel cut-off tools as inexpensive but effective deterrents to theft. More expensive gadgets are available too that will track stolen cars to help police and owners recover them.

"They won't help if someone is determined to steal your car, but most deterrents make potential thieves go to another target," said Scafidi.

Older model Hondas and Toyotas consistently top the list, because of their popularity and reliability. In other words, there are just a lot of them still on the road, making them a bigger target.

Additionally, many of those old Honda and Toyota models stayed the same for years, making them even more valuable for their parts.

"They were the same for two or three model years," said Scafidi. "They're just like the GM cars in the 1980s where you could take the bumper off a Pontiac and put it on a Buick."

Following in the top ten were the '94 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup, the '94 Acura Integra, the '04 Dodge Ram Pickup, the '94 Nissan Sentra, and the '88 Toyota Pickup at No. 9.

http://biz.yahoo.com/cnnm/080709/070...&.pf=insurance

[RamJet502]

Originally Posted by steinravnik

[b][size="4"]Older model Hondas and Toyotas consistently top the list, because of their popularity and reliability. In other words, there are just a lot of them still on the road, making them a bigger target.

That's nice "spin", older Hondas and Toyotas are the most stolen because its so easy to get in them.

[spaz]

about 2-3 years ago the 4th most stolen car in NY was the 1986 Olds Cutlass Supreme Coupe. some cars retain their desirability for decades

[GMfan1111]

early 90's GM trucks are popular targets especially in areas where you can quickly sell it for scrap. We learned that the hard way after someone tried to make off with my dad's truck a few months back. and since his plant is in Pontiac there are plenty of scrapyards where the thieves could have sent it to

[big swede]

Originally Posted by RamJet502

That's nice "spin", older Hondas and Toyotas are the most stolen because its so easy to get in them.

The truth of the matter is that if you're stealing cars for a living you are told what to steal. The chop shop wants you to steal the most popular cars of the era so they have the largest opportunity to "resell" the parts to unscrupulous auto repair shops.

[drew630]

I have never understood why the most stolen cars are always old cars. Seems to me if your going to risk it all why not go with something nice?

[eurohazard]

Originally Posted by big swede

The truth of the matter is that if you're stealing cars for a living you are told what to steal. The chop shop wants you to steal the most popular cars of the era so they have the largest opportunity to "resell" the parts to unscrupulous auto repair shops.

This is exactly correct.

If someone was going to steal a car for a joy ride, it sure the heck wouldn't be a Civic. Civics are easy to get into though....I could do it with a coat hanger and needle nose pliers in about 30 seconds. And I am not a pro. Then again a "pro" could get into any car in probably less than half of 30 seconds.

[big swede]

Originally Posted by drew630

I have never understood why the most stolen cars are always old cars. Seems to me if your going to risk it all why not go with something nice?

Older cars need more repairs so it creates a market for the chop shops.

[96_impala_ss]

Originally Posted by big swede

Older cars need more repairs so it creates a market for the chop shops.

and there much easier to steal. Most cars now are harder to hotwire and with old cars you dont even need to hotwire. You can stick in a knife or another key thats not related to the car and it starts. I know this is true for 80s Nissan/Datsuns, Toyotas, and Hondas.

As far as the Civic and Integras being stolen, most of the time its to rice them up.

[genjy]

Originally Posted by 96_impala_ss

As far as the Civic and Integras being stolen, most of the time its to rice them up.

Not really. Once you find out your Civic or Integra is stolen, it's probably already in thousands of pieces.

Someone stole my friend's extremely beat-up, ridiculously crappy 1st gen Integra outside his house. He found the car about two weeks later. The only things really left were the crappy body panels and the chassis.

[neshapop]

Originally Posted by steinravnik

Most Stolen Cars


"It's amazing to see how many folks get their cars stolen from leaving their keys in them," said NICB spokesman Frank Scafidi. "People should just use some basic common sense."

http://biz.yahoo.com/cnnm/080709/070...&.pf=insurance

Hmmm, does this say something about the IQ of the owners? Or how much they care about brand and make they drive?

Although I used to leave my 14 year old Regal unlocked for almost a year before it went to Car Heaven but Buick were always at the bottom of this list.

[dbfruth]

Originally Posted by eurohazard

This is exactly correct.

If someone was going to steal a car for a joy ride, it sure the heck wouldn't be a Civic. Civics are easy to get into though....I could do it with a coat hanger and needle nose pliers in about 30 seconds. And I am not a pro. Then again a "pro" could get into any car in probably less than half of 30 seconds.

My dad has a 91 Civic that I can slim jim in 6 seconds. I actually suprised myself on that one. I was expecting 1 minute or less not 6 seconds! I learned to use a slim jim when I worked for a local car dealer. Sometimes the keys managed to get locked inside in the detail shop

[vcs2600]

The old plastic Saturns could be opened up just by pounding the door in the right spot. Its also possible to file down a generic key for a lot of these cars.

Also, most stolen cars = Most popular cars from 10 years ago. For years, GM models were on top of list, especially the RWD G Bodies and the A bodies. And GM pickup trucks are still on the list.

[coaster.n3rd]

Originally Posted by RamJet502

That's nice "spin", older Hondas and Toyotas are the most stolen because its so easy to get in them.

A spin! More like a statement showing the ignorance of the author. That entire line contradicts itself if you look at it, why does a reliable car need parts?

[JerryL]

Originally Posted by eurohazard

This is exactly correct.

If someone was going to steal a car for a joy ride, it sure the heck wouldn't be a Civic. Civics are easy to get into though....I could do it with a coat hanger and needle nose pliers in about 30 seconds. And I am not a pro. Then again a "pro" could get into any car in probably less than half of 30 seconds.

Most high end cars are stolen with a flat bed...they are not driven away. And most are stolen with the owners key....either copied at the dealer or at valet parking. Facts of life in Miami.

Usually a couple of hours later they are in a container headed South.