Two Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC) (TYO:7267) models topped the list for most stolen vehicles in 2013. The Honda Accord and Honda Civic top National Crime Information Bureau’s yearly Hot Wheels list which names the most stolen vehicles in the United States. The former topped the list at number one with a total number of thefts at 53,995, while latter takes second place. The number of Civic thefts totaled to 45,001.
Honda Civic tops the list of most stolen cars
Pickup trucks are also high on the list of most stolen vehicles. Full size Chevrolet and Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) pickups take third and fourth place respectively. Last year, there were 27,809 Chevy pickups and 26,494 Ford trucks stolen. Toyota Camry takes fifth place with 14,420 cars stolen. Here is a full list from NCIB:
- Honda Civic, 45,001 thefts;
- Chevrolet Pickup (full size), 27,809;
- Ford Pickup (full size), 26,494;
- Toyota Camry, 14,420;
- Dodge Pickup (full size), 11,347;
- Dodge Caravan, 10,911;
- Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee, 9,272;
- Toyota Corolla, 9,010;
- Nissan Altima, 8,892.
It was reported that even after a slight increase in 2012, it’s FBI thinks there will be a reduction of car thefts by 3.2% when the final numbers for 2013 are released later on. If the FBI’s speculation is correct, the total number of thefts will be under 700,000 which is over 50% reduction in thefts, something that hasn’t been seen since 1991.
What car owners can do to prevent vehicle thefts
Unfortunately, even with such an improvement, the numbers are still high. It amounts to a car being stolen every 45 minutes with losses of $4 billion a year. The good news is that there are things people can do to lower their risk of car theft. NICB recommends drivers lock their cars and take their keys with them when the cars are not in use. It is also advised to have a warning device to help ensure car owners their vehicles remain in the same spot. An immobilizing device could also be useful in preventing thieves from driving away with the car. A tracking device is another solid option which alerts local authorities if the vehicle is stolen.
