The content of the article:
- The most stolen cars in the USA
- The UK's most stolen cars
Hundreds of thousands of cars are hijacked every year. Each country maintains its own records based on data from insurance companies, and at the end of the year it becomes clear which car brands are most often targeted by cybercriminals.
The most stolen cars in the USA
In the US, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) compiles a Hot Wheels list of the most stolen cars every year. For 2019, this information has not yet been published, data for 2018 is available.
In total, almost 750,000 vehicle thefts have occurred in the country. The ten most stolen cars include:
Honda civic sedan
Honda Civic topped the list and became the leader in theft. Mostly 2000 Hondas were stolen (5,290 thefts), with a total of 38,426 hijacked Honda Civics.
The Civic is one of the most popular cars in the world, with more than 325,000 units sold in 2018. A sedan with a good ride, comfortable handling, a spacious interior, a sporty appearance fell in love with many, including the hijackers. Fast and economical, yet inexpensive.
Thieves tend to prefer inexpensive cars that are not particularly new and not too eye-catching. Although the Honda Civic became the queen of theft in 2018, the number of thefts has decreased by 14.7% compared to 2017.
Honda accord
The Honda Accord sedan came in second. Most of all abducted Honda Accord in 1997 (5029 thefts). A total of 36,815 Accords (all model years) were stolen in 2018, down 6,949 from 2017, according to NCIB. In total, more than 384,000 units of Accords were sold in 1997.
More than 20 years later, the 1997 model is still popular, especially with thieves. Fast, reliable, with a spacious interior, the car has retained its popularity for several decades, and the number of its fans is only growing.
Accord sales throughout the country are not falling, which means that more and more cars appear on the roads, and more and more spare parts are required to repair them. In addition, spare parts can be suitable for cars of different model years. All this attracts thieves to the Honda Accord like a magnet.
Ford F-150 OGI
NICB combined all full-size Ford Pickups and ranked the F-Series in third place. The 2006 Ford was the most attractive to criminals in 2018 (3,173 thefts), and a total of 36,355 pickups were stolen.
Ford pickup trucks are widespread and often bought as the ideal vehicle for farmers and builders. In addition, pickup trucks and parts are traded on the black market, making this truck a tempting target for thieves. The theft rate of Ford pickups rose 3.6% year over year.
Chevrolet Silverado 2.7T OGI
The full-size Chevrolet Pickup trucks are also placed in one full category, making the Silverado the fourth most stolen vehicle. Most of the thieves were interested in the 2004 Chevrolet Pickup (2,097 thefts) - in just a year, 31,566 pickups were stolen.
The number of Silverado hijacked has also increased slightly since 2017. It means that Chevy Silverado is still one of the most stolen cars in the US... Full-size Chevrolet pickup trucks have been the focus of car thieves in 13 states.
Toyota Camry
The hijackers liked Camry sedans of 2017 (1,144 thefts). In total, 16,906 Toyota Camry thefts of various model years took place in the United States. This powerful and impeccably safe car is popular not only in the United States, but also in other countries. They appreciate it for its stylish appearance, comfort and high class.
Nissan altima
The car is recognized as the best family sedan. Indestructible reliability and a five-point level of safety have built the reputation of the Nissan Altima. The respectable appearance and special comfort attract both buyers and hijackers, who stole 13,284 cars in 2018, preferring the 2017 Altima (1,451 thefts).
The total number of cases of theft of Altima has not changed much since 2017. In 2018, the number of thefts was less by only 74 units, or 0.6%.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
A large, roomy and very economical sedan is often found on the roads of the United States, which is why it fell under the crosshairs of auto-makers. The hijackers preferred the 2017 Toyota Corolla (1,034 thefts), with a total of 12,388 stolen vehicles.
Thefts of Toyota Corolla remained at about the same level as in 2017, with an increase of only 0.4%.
Given the Corolla's long-standing popularity among car owners, it's not hard to see why this car consistently ranks high among the car thieves who take it apart and sell parts on the black market.
GMC Sierra 1500
The full-size GMC Pickup made it to the eighth line of the list of most stolen cars in 2018. Not only that, they became the 2018 car theft champions. At the same time, they have the highest rates of theft per thousand - 6/1000.
In total, 11708 pickups were stolen, the most attractive for thieves was the 2018 model range (1170 thefts).
The GMC Pickup, a shining armor-clad iron knight of the road, is capable of combining enduring performance with advanced technology while respecting its owner's image and status. Unsurprisingly, the hijackers have grabbed hold of the brand new GMC Sierra pickups with a stranglehold.
The number of GMC thefts is growing from year to year and has increased by 7.8% compared to 2017.
Ram 1500 diesel
Ram Pickup (full size) pickups made the NICB list with 11,226 thefts in a year. The car thieves preferred the old 2001 Dodge / Ram Pickup (1155 thefts).
A reliable, hardy and unpretentious truck - a loyal assistant and friend to every hardworking American, as well as a hunter, explorer on an expedition, a geologist and other prairie romantics.
Thefts of Dodge pickup trucks decreased by 6.5%. And while there has been a decline in theft, Dodge / Ram Pickup owners shouldn't relax, as pickup trucks are still highly prized by carjackers in general.
Jeep grand cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee and Cherokee SUVs round out the list of most stolen vehicles in the United States. During the year, 9818 jeeps were stolen, the 2000 lineup was the most coveted for criminals (646 thefts).
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a line of mid-size SUVs. The Cherokee is the only SUV to make it to the top ten NICBs. It's not hard to see why thieves choose this car.
For decades, the Grand Cherokee has remained a favorite of the American people, and is in great demand all over the world. It is prized for its stamina, power and incredible durability. With proper maintenance, this vehicle can travel over 300,000 miles.
Many people abroad would like to have a jeep, so the thieves have enough business - the stolen cars are resold on the black market or dismantled for parts.
The UK's most stolen cars
In the United Kingdom, statistics on the number of stolen vehicles per year were provided by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
According to DVLA, the number of thefts in the UK has increased by almost 50% over the past 5 years. The agency conducted a study for the period from November 2018 to November 2019. According to the results, during this period, more than 56,000 cars, or 154 cars per day, were stolen. A list of the 10 most stolen cars was compiled, of which we will consider the first five leaders.
Ford Fiesta - 2384 thefts
For ten years now, it has been the best-selling car in Britain and the most stolen car in the country. A small but powerful sedan or hatchback is prized in the country. Subcompact, well-handled, quick to start, equipped with technology, Ford is popular with English drivers and thieves alike.
Both need to hurry up with the acquisition, as Ford executives have announced that 2019 will be the last year for Fiesta thanks to the company's new truck and SUV business plan.
Land Rover Range Rover - 1917 Thefts
If the Range Rover used to be a rough workhorse, now the top of the line from Land Rover is a luxury SUV with a chic cockpit, many technical features and a six-figure price tag.
The car is able to easily overcome off-roadbut just as reliable on highways and commuter routes. This is a comfortable and status car for those who love luxury and prestige most of all. And for these expensive off-road vehicles there is a hunt in order to completely, to the skeleton, undress the car, and sell parts with a large fat on the "black" market.
Volkswagen Golf - Hijacked 1331
The leader of sales in Europe and, as a result, one of the leaders in the first three stolen cars. The compact hatchback is a playful horse, hardy and agile in tight cities. Thieves purposefully attack German brand cars, tracking down drivers and stealing keys.
Ford Focus - 1200 thefts
Ford Focus is one of the ten best-selling cars in Europe. In Russia, the model is also not losing its popularity. And Great Britain has succumbed to Ford's charm - here it is a common brand that hijackers do not ignore.
Inexpensive and practical, Ford Fiesta consumes little fuel, hardly breaks down, it is comfortable inside - what else is needed for a car thief to decide on a crime and then offer spare parts for sale?
BMW 3 Series - 1042 Thefts
The iconic and consistently popular BMW 3 Series is one of the most dynamic luxury sedans, combining powerful turbocharged engines and tons of technical bells and whistles.
A bit conservative in appearance, BMW offers an interior with the highest level of comfort. This is true German quality and style. The car is equipped with a BMW remote service system. And yet, despite the security measures, high-end hijackers have the technical means to steal. Recently, cases of theft without a key have become more frequent, when an attacker picks up a signal to open a car.
The list of the most stolen cars on Foggy Albion also includes Vauxhall Astra (836 thefts), Land Rover Discovery (791), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (612), BMW 5 Series (506) and Audi A3 (456). Premium models tend to be kidnapped to order by organized crime groups, after which they can surface anywhere in Uganda.
