The Honda Civic no longer claims the top spot of the most stolen vehicle in America. That spot now goes to the Ford full-sized pickup, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's latest "Hot Wheels" report.
In the 2019 report that includes crime data from across the country, the NICB report ranks the Ford full-sized pick-up truck as the most stolen vehicle in 2019. In fact, four full-size pickup trucks from different manufacturers made the top ten list.
The report examines vehicle theft data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and determines the vehicle make, model, and model year most reported stolen in 2019.
Most Stolen Vehicles in America in 2019
| RANK | VEHICLE | # THEFTS | MOST FREQUENT VEHICLE YEARS STOLEN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ford Pick-Up (Full Size) | 38,938 | 2006 |
| 2. | Honda Civic | 33,220 | 2000 |
| 3. | Chevrolet Pick-Up (Full Size) | 32,583 | 2004 |
| 4. | Honda Accord | 30,745 | 1997 |
| 5. | Toyota Camry | 15,656 | 2007 |
| 6. | Nissan Altima | 13,355 | 2015 |
| 7. | Toyota Corolla | 12,137 | 2018 |
| 8. | Dodge Pick-Up (Full Size) | 11,292 | 2001 |
| 9. | GMC Pick-Up (Full Size) | 11,164 | 2018 |
| 10. | Honda CR-V | 10,094 | 2001 |
While the Ford pickups are a treasured target by thieves, when categorized by model year, the 2000 Honda Civic had the most thefts followed by the 1997 Honda Accord.
Top Ten Models, Makes, and Years Swiped in 2019
| 1. | 2000 Honda Civic | 4,731 |
| 2. | 1997 Honda Accord | 3,563 |
| 3. | 2006 Ford Pick-Up (Full Size) | 3,061 |
| 4. | 2004 Chevrolet Pick-Up (Full Size) | 2,099 |
| 5. | 2019 Ram Pick-Up (Full Size) | 1,547 |
| 6. | 2001 Honda CRV | 1,394 |
| 7. | 2015 Nissan Altima | 1,349 |
| 8. | 2001 Dodge Pick-Up (Full Size) | 1,174 |
| 9. | 2019 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee | 1,110 |
| 10. | 2018 GMC Pick-Up (Full Size) | 1,101 |
In 2019, the top three model years stolen were 2018 vehicles (47,859 thefts), followed by 2019 models (45,188 thefts), and 2017 models (39,425 thefts).
Preventing Theft
As theft remains high, NICB recommends drivers follow these four layers of protection to guard against vehicle theft:
Common Sense
The common-sense approach to protection is the easiest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves. You should always:
- Remove your keys from the ignition
- Lock your doors/close your windows
- Park in a well-lit area
Warning Device
The second layer of protection is a visible or audible device that alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected. Popular devices include:
- Audible alarms
- Steering column collars
- Steering wheel/brake pedal lock
- Brake locks
- Wheel locks
- Theft-deterrent decals
- Identification markers in or on vehicle
- VIN etching
- Microdot marking
Immobilizing Device
The third layer of protection is a device that prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated. Some examples are:
- Smart keys
- Fuse cut-offs
- Kill switches
- Starter, ignition, and fuel pump disablers
- Wireless ignition authentication
Tracking Device
The final layer of protection is a tracking device that emits a signal to the police or 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.
