If you own one of these pickup trucks or passenger cars, you need to be extra vigilant as they are the ones most targeted by thieves.
Popular In More Ways Than One
Vehicle theft has been on the rise for years now, though the type of vehicle thieves prefer has changed considerably. One thing that remains consistent, however, is the fact that more popular, better-selling vehicles tend to top the list of the most stolen year in and year out, and in 2022, pickups proved that they weren't just popular among vehicle shoppers - but also those that steal them - as we can see from this new data just released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
10. Honda CR-V
Finally, we have the Honda CR-V in 10th place, as the popular crossover accounted for 13,832 thefts in 2022, with the most commonly stolen model year being 2001.
9. GMC Sierra
Lagging a bit behind its pickup brethren, the GMC Sierra fell near the bottom of this year's most stolen list, but it remains popular among thieves, who made off with 16,622 of these pickups last year - the most common of the bunch came from 2005.
8. Toyota Camry
Another familiar face on the annual most stolen vehicles list is the Toyota Camry, long one of the better-selling vehicles on the planet. Last year, thieves made off with 17,094 Camrys, with the most popular model year being 2021.
7. Kia Optima
The Kia Optima made the cut this time around as well, with 18,221 thefts reported in 2022. The most popular model year of the bunch was 2015, joining the Sonata and Elantra, which made the top 10 list for the very first time this year.
6. Hyundai Elantra
The Sonata was followed by the Elantra, which experienced 19,602 thefts in 2022, while the 2017 model year proved to be the most commonly stolen of the bunch. Honda and Hyundai ranked high on this list most likely due to social media trends demonstrating how easy they are to steal, according to law enforcement, though recovery rates for these models did fall between 87 and 95 percent.
5. Hyundai Sonata
Next up, we have the quite common Hyundai Sonata, which suffered 21,707 thefts last year, with the most popular model year being 2013.
4. Honda Accord
For a very long time, the Honda Accord topped this list as well, but the popular sedan is still sticking around near the top, with 27,089 thefts reported last year. Thieves preferred the 1997 model among all others, too.
3. Honda Civic
From here, there are some common faces on this latest list of the most stolen vehicles, starting with the Honda Civic, which has always been popular with thieves. Last year, those folks made off with 27,113 examples of the sedan/hatchback, with the 2000 model year proving to be the most popular.
2. Ford F-150/Super Duty
The F-Series wasn't far behind, however, as it experienced 48,175 thefts last year, with the most commonly stolen model being those build for the 2006 model year. Interestingly, the NICB reports that while theft has been on the rise, so have recoveries - in fact, more than 85 percent of all the vehicles reported stolen last year were eventually recovered, either by law enforcement agencies or other means and methods. Additionally, a grand total of 34 percent of those vehicles were recovered within a day of the owners reporting that they were stolen.
1. Chevrolet Silverado
While the Ford F-Series has spent a good portion of the last few years atop this list of most stolen vehicles, it actually conceded the number one spot this year to the Chevy Silverado, which had 49,903 thefts in 2022, with the most commonly stolen model being trucks built in the 2004 model year. However, pickups in general accounted for a whopping 25 percent of the thefts reported in 2022, though the does represent a decrease from an all-time high of 33 percent in 2021.
How Can You Prevent Vehicle Theft?
Luckily, the NICB has a few tips for how to prevent your vehicle from being stolen - many of which are easy to work into one's daily routine.
- In addition to always locking your vehicle, anti-theft devices are a great idea, as they can disable the fuel system or cut off the ignition.
- Visible deterrents like steering wheel locks and brake pedal locks can provide another layer of protection.
If your vehicle is ultimately stolen, however, you should
- report it to the police and your insurance company as soon as possible
- be prepared to provide the make/model of the vehicle, color, license plate number, and the vehicle’s VIN
This will greatly improve your chances of getting the vehicle back.
