|
Stolen Vehicles by State
The most popular choice for auto thieves vary by state.
View the top 10 most stolen vehicles in your state in 2006:
|
A recent study by the National Insurance Crime Bureau revealed the top 10 most stolen vehicles nationwide, as well as by state, based on 2006 data. Overall the Honda Civic joined the usual favorite, the Honda Accord, as the preferred target of thieves nationwide. There are plenty of regional differences, however; California's top stolen vehicle is the Honda Accord, whereas New York's is the Honda Civic, Ohio the Oldsmobile Cutlass, and Texas the Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup.
According to the NICB, every 26.4 seconds a car is stolen in the United States. In 2006 alone there were 1,192,809 reported stolen vehicles in the U.S., which is 42,417 fewer than in 2005.
This marks the third consecutive year of theft decline, although only 59% of the stolen vehicles were recovered. These numbers reflect the lowest auto recovery rate in a decade.
|
The Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in the Nation in 2006
1) 1995 Honda Civic
2) 1991 Honda Accord
3) 1989 Toyota Camry
4) 1997 Ford F-150 Series Pickup
5) 2005 Doge Ram Pickup
6) 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup
7) 1994 Nissan Sentra
8) 1994 Dodge Caravan
9) 1994 Saturn SL
10) 1990 Acura Integra
Source: NICB
|
The decrease in thefts is a relief, says NICB President and Chief Executive Officer Robert M. Bryant, who also states, "At NICB we have been providing the latest technology in auto theft detection and recovery equipment to law enforcement agencies from California to Florida. Through the support of our member insurance companies, NICB acquires and deploys License Plate Recognition systems and bait vehicles in an effort to reduce vehicle theft."
The NICB and other agencies work tirelessly year-round to recover as many stolen vehicles as possible. Despite their efforts the whereabouts of some vehicles remain a mystery. So what happens to cars that are never recovered?
Some are stolen and exported to foreign countries, and although difficult to track, over 4,000 vehicles were recovered and repatriated to the United States in 2006. The repatriation of these vehicles equaled a recovery of around $42 million in the past year.
Another fate for lost vehicles is "owner give ups" - the owner of the vehicle makes a false theft report in hopes of obtaining more money than the car is worth, or because they do not want the car any longer.
Last but not least, many stolen cars end up in chop shops, which strip and harvest the vehicles' individual parts necessary for illegal transactions.
It is important to be cognizant of ways to engage in theft protection. Protect your vehicle from thieves and learn tips and suggestions to make your car less attractive to them (and therefore less likely to be stolen). Through conscious effort and effective measures, you can help prevent vehicle theft and protect yourself from becoming a victim.
Source: NICB
|
