Are You Driving One of The Most-Stolen Cars in PA?

We count on our cars staying where we parking them. But certain cars and trucks are targeted by thieves more than others. Is yours one of them?

The National Insurance Crime Bureau this week released its annual report on the most-stolen cars in the country. The report looks at theft data submitted to the National Crime Information Center to determine which models are targetted most by theives.

Overall, thefts of vehicles were down from 2012, a positive sign, NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle said. “But it still amounts to a vehicle being stolen every 45 seconds and losses of over $4 billion a year,” Wehrle said. “That’s why we applaud the vehicle manufacturers for their efforts to improve anti-theft technology and pledge to continue to work with our insurance company members and law enforcement to identify and seek vigorous prosecution of the organized criminal rings responsible for so many of these thefts.”

According to the NICB, the most-stolen cars in Pennsylvania in 2013 were:

1. Honda Accord, model year 1996
2. Honda Civic, 1998
3. Ford pickup, full-sized, 2004
4. Toyota Camry, 2012
5. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee, 1996
6. Dodge Caravan, 2000
7. Chevrolet Impala, 2006
8. Nissan Altima, 2003
9. Chevrolet pickup, full-sized, 1999
10. Ford Explorer, 2002

The NICB recommends taking the following steps to avoid becoming a statistic yourself:

• Lock your car.
• Use a car alarm. “Having and using a visible or audible warning device is another item that can ensure that your car remains where you left it,” the NICB says.
• Consider an immobilizing device, such as a fuel cut-off or a smart key. “Generally speaking, if your vehicle can’t be started, it can’t be stolen,” the NICB says.

See the full NICB report here.