THE MOST STOLEN CAR IN AMERICA

Ford Mustang? Chevrolet Corvette? Porsche perhaps? Nope. According to the FBI’s just-released 2009 Uniform Crime Report, the 1994 Honda Accord is the most stolen car in America, followed by the 1995 Honda Civic and 1991 Toyota Camry. On the bright side, the report shows that vehicle theft is down significantly from the previous year, making 2009 the sixth consecutive year of reduced vehicle thefts. In 2008, 956,846 vehicles were reported stolen—the lowest annual total in over 20 years. For 2009, the number is even lower: 794,616. “Through the end of August this year there were 97,655 vehicles that were listed as stolen and not yet recovered,” said Joe Wehrle, NICB president and CEO. “Of that number, only 38 percent had some kind of insurance coverage. So there are a lot of vehicles out there that are being stolen and the owner is left holding the bag with no car and no money to buy another one. “As our Hot Wheels report shows, many of these thefts end up in chop shops where they are turned into replacement parts.” According to the report, the most stolen vehicles* in the nation were: 1. 1994 Honda Accord 2. 1995 Honda Civic 3. 1991 Toyota Camry 4. 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup 5. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 6. 2000 Dodge Caravan 7. 1994 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size) 8. 1994 Acura Integra 9. 2002 Ford Explorer 10. 2009 Toyota Corolla Even though the continuing decline in vehicle thefts is great news, if it happens to you it can be financially devastating and just an all-around hassle. That’s why, as part of its Hot Wheels and Hot Spots campaigns each year, NICB urges motorists to follow its “layered approach” to auto theft prevention. NICB’s four layers of protection are: Common Sense: Lock your car and take your keys. It’s simple enough, but many thefts occur because owners make it easy for thieves to steal their cars. Warning Device: Having and using a visible or audible warning device is another item that can ensure that your car remains where you left it. Immobilizing Device: Generally speaking, if your vehicle can’t be started, it can’t be stolen. “Kill” switches, fuel cut-offs and smart keys are among the devices which are extremely effective. Tracking Device: A tracking device emits a signal to the police or to a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ “telematics” which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer. * The report reflects stolen vehicle data reported to NCIC in 2009. No further filtering of information is conducted, i.e., determining the total number of a particular make and model currently registered in the U.S. for comparison purposes.