Most Stolen Cars
Whenever you’ve forgotten where you’ve parked your car in the parking lot, the thought might hit you, “Did someone steal it?” Afterward, panic ensues. Maybe it’s the fact that you love your car, maybe it’s the fact that even with your insurance, if it’s found, it will probably have to be fixed (and there’s always that pesky deductible), or maybe it’s the stuff that you have inside of it that is irreplaceable.
But how likely is it for your car to be stolen?
Car thefts have actually dropped in the past ten years. This is due to more cars having anti theft devices, gps locators, and smart keys, though if a thief really wants your car, they can probably get it anyway.
In the top ten stolen cars of 2011, 6 of them were trucks. Many trucks don’t have theft deterrents, plus there’s the added bonus of expensive tools in the back that can be sold, in addition to the parts. That could be a tidy profit for the criminal. Three of them are SUV’s, probably for the same reasons. The bigger the car (especially “manly” cars, the more stuff inside.
In the past, the majority of stolen cars were foreign. Honda for a long time had a few models on the top ten list. Now there’s a lot more American made cars there. Who knew that thieves looked for the “made in the USA” label.
So, here’s the list for 2011:
1. Cadillac Escalade
2. Ford F-250 4WD
3. Chevrolet Silverado
4. Ford F-450 4WD
5. GMC Sierra Crew Cab
6. Chrysler 300
7. Ford F-350 4WD
8. Chevrolet Avalanche
9. GMC Yukon XL 4WD
10. Chrysler 300 HEMI
Just because your car isn’t on the list, doesn’t mean you’re safe, and just because your car is on the list, doesn’t mean it’s going to get stolen, but with these cars you might have a higher insurance rate. Depending on your insurance company, some will actually offer you a discount if you have a GPS locator device, though policies can actually vary from state to state.
Make sure you don’t keep valuables in your car, especially out in plain view, that will cut down on your chances more than you think.
And for those of you that were curious, the least stolen car was the Toyota Prius. I guess thieves don’t like good gas mileage.