© Colourbox
America’s Most Wanted — By Car Thieves
Every year the National Insurance Crime Bureau releases its findings on the most stolen cars in America. The “Hot Wheels” report analyzes 2021 vehicle theft data submitted to the National Crime Information Center by law enforcement agencies around the country. According to the NICB, vehicle thefts were up by eight percent in 2021 versus a year earlier to almost 1 million vehicles stolen. Not surprisingly, this list corresponds closely to America’s best-selling vehicles. Full-size pickup trucks continue to top the list, making up 14 percent of all vehicles stolen in America last year. The NICB attributes this increased theft rate to the high value of used cars. “Used car values are at historical highs,” said David Glawe, President and CEO of NICB. “We have seen a nearly 35% increase in used car values over the last two years due to supply chain issues and inflation. Stolen cars can be shipped overseas and resold or broken down for valuable used car parts here in the U.S.,” Glawe observed. What follows are the most stolen cars during calendar year 2021, as well as each vehicle’s most commonly stolen model year.
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© Toyota Motor Sales USA
10. Toyota Corolla
Total Stolen: 12,927
Most Popular Year: 2020
The Corolla is a perennial favorite among those who don’t pay for their cars. Toyota claims more than 40 million new Corollas have been sold since its introduction in 1966 with sales steadily increasing over the last several years, the long-running model one of the best-selling compact cars in the U.S. The Corolla’s ubiquity means plenty are available for thieves to get their hands on, and it also creates considerable demand for parts. The 2020 model year ushered in an updated Corolla including the first hybrid, which might explain the popularity of that particular model year among thieves.
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© FCA US LLC
9. Jeep Cherokee / Grand Cherokee
Total Stolen: 13,210
Most Popular Year: 2018
Jeep is new to this top 10 list, but with the brand growing in popularity every year it’s not a big surprise that the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee would also be popular among car thieves. Both models offer a roomy, comfortable interior with Jeep’s legendary off-road prowess. The Grand Cherokee is currently Jeep’s best-seller, bolstered by the introduction of an all-new model that includes the first 3-row Grand Cherokee L.
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© American Honda Motors
8. Honda CR-V
Total Stolen: 13,308
Most Popular Year: 2000
Although crossovers currently dominate the U.S. market among new-car shoppers, Honda’s CR-V has the distinction of being one of only two SUVs on the NICB’s list of most stolen cars. Introduced in 1997, the CR-V would eventually become the best-selling model in Honda’s lineup; an all-new CR-V arrives this year with fresh styling, a spacious, usable interior, and a range of powertrains including a fuel-efficient hybrid. Apparently, car thieves are more interested in the CR-V’s earlier versions — the most stolen model year hails from the vehicle’s first generation.
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© Nissan North America
7. Nissan Altima
Total Stolen: 14,108
Most Popular Year: 2020
Even as crossovers increase in popularity, the Nissan Altima remains one of only a few passenger cars still holding a place on the U.S. best-sellers list, revealing there is a plentiful of supply still on roads for car thieves. The Altima received major styling updates in 2019 with a look that fits with the rest of the Nissan lineup, as well as new powertrains, advanced safety features and the availability of AWD. Clearly these items are of interest to those who desire an Altima but don’t want to pay for it.
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© General Motors
6. GMC Sierra
Total Stolen: 15,599
Most Popular Year: 2005
Call it a simple law of averages — the more copies of a vehicle that exist in public, the more likely it will be stolen. The GMC Sierra full-size pickup truck has experienced impressive sales over the last few years, and that translates into popularity among thieves. Thanks to those high numbers, a plethora of Sierra configurations are available to nefarious individuals, including many choices of body styles, drivetrains, features and variants such as the luxurious Sierra Denali.
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© Toyota Motor Sales USA
5. Toyota Camry
Total Stolen: 17,270
Most Popular Year: 2007
Commanding the title of best-selling passenger car in America for more than 15 years, the Camry’s roomy interior and fuel-efficient, reliable engines ensure this Toyota sells in huge numbers annually. Toyota introduced the eighth-generation Camry a few years ago, giving the popular sedan a more engaging appearance with a more comfortable interior and a range of fuel-efficient, powerful engines.
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© American Honda Motors
4. Honda Accord
Total Stolen: 30,274
Most Popular Year: 1997
After years sitting atop this list of most stolen cars in the United States, the Honda Accord is no longer the darling model among thieves. However, its numbers remain high — a direct result of Accord’s popularity with drivers everywhere as economical, reliable transportation that retains its resale value. And the sheer number of Accords on the road provides thieves with easy choices and access. Honda introduced smartkeys for Accord in 1998 — which makes the car a bit more difficult to steal — so most of the stolen models hail from years prior. Since the inception of smartkeys, the number of Accords stolen each year has dropped considerably.
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© American Honda Motors
3. Honda Civic
Total Stolen: 31,673
Most Popular Year: 2000
Although it remains one of the most ubiquitous compact cars in America, the Civic is no longer the most popular target among U.S. car thieves. The model started its life as a subcompact and has grown in size over the years; however, it’s those original, smaller models that remain big targets among car boosters. Honda redesigned the Civic for the 2006 model year, putting the coupe and sedan on different platforms as well as adding a more powerful engine and a more efficient hybrid system.
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© Ford Motor Company
2. Ford F-Series
Total Stolen: 47,999
Most Popular Year: 2006
The Ford F-Series truck has been the best-selling vehicle in America for decades, but this big truck is no longer first among car thieves. With so many Ford trucks on the road — the company commonly sells more than 700,000 per year — it’s not surprising to see the F-Series consistently near the top of the NICB’s most stolen cars list year after year. In 2005 Ford sold more than 900,000 full-size pickups, creating a plethora of new models to pilfer in 2006.
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© General Motors
1. Chevrolet Silverado
Total Stolen: 48,206
Most Popular Year: 2004
The full-size Chevy Silverado may be the second-best seller in America currently, but it ranks at the top among car thieves. Although the 2004 model year seems to be most popular with criminals, Silverado was basically unchanged from 2003 to 2007 and thus the number of stolen Chevy trucks has remained consistent for those model years. Available with a variety of engines and configurations, Silverado sales have been on the rise, and that sheer volume has resulted in increased thefts year over year.
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