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The Hot List: The 10 Most Stolen Car Models in America

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When you think of things that are stolen frequently, you may think of things like phones, wallets, purses, or even cars. Cars are stolen quite frequently because of their immense value and usefulness, as well as their plentiful supply. However, some vehicles seem to find themselves in the sights of potential thieves far more often than others. There are plenty of reasons for this, but the biggest one is an inconspicuous nature. A bright red Ferrari is going to attract attention anywhere you go, but nobody really pays any attention to the small white commuter sedan, especially when it’s on the older side and doesn’t contain anti-theft technology that many modern vehicles include.

Each year, the National Insurance Crime Bureau compiles a list of these most stolen vehicles. According to the results of their survey, here are the findings for the year 2016.

The 10 Most Stolen Cars in America (2016 Statistics)

10. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee – 9,245 units: The Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee of the late 1990s and early 2000s is significantly different from today’s models. While they’re a simple commuter SUV and luxury SUV today, their older units are a popular platform for creating off-road vehicles, which means parts are in high-demand.

9. Chevrolet Impala – 9,749 units: The Chevrolet Impala has long struggled with theft problems, mainly due to its combination of somewhat plain looks disguising a sizeable power plant under the hood. Impalas up until this most recent generation featured a V6 engine, which made them also popular for the use in the commission of other crimes.

8. Toyota Corolla – 11,989 units: Perhaps the most shocking thing about this car’s inclusion on the list is the fact that the most popular stolen is 2015, just one year prior to these statistics. It might seem shocking to see a car that’s so new be on this top-ten list, but the Toyota Corolla once again finds its way here. It’s notorious for not only being small, but an annual best-seller, which means they’re extremely difficult to recover once taken.

7. Dodge Ram – 12,128 units: This may be somewhat misleading as the study didn’t specify which type of Ram was stolen over 12,000 times during the 2016 year, an important detail when you consider the Ram line has long carried V6, V8, and even diesel engine options under the Ram name. Nonetheless, work trucks are popular theft targets because they’re so heavily in demand, especially at lower price values than you’ll find even on used car dealer lots.

6. Nissan Altima – 12,221 units: The 2015 Nissan Altima from this year came with a keyless entry and ignition system standard, but the system was clearly flawed as it was the most stolen brand new vehicle in the 2015 year and remained the most popular year stolen for one of the models on the top-ten list amongst all vehicles for the following year. Just goes to show that anti-theft technology isn’t foolproof.

5. Toyota Camry – 16,732 units: Of the nearly 17,000 stolen Toyota Camry vehicles in 2016, brand new ones were the most frequently stolen. They’re an immensely popular commuter car, but the fact that both these and the Corolla saw a number of brand new vehicles signals how much is left to be desired when it comes to their anti-theft security.

4. Chevrolet Silverado – 31,238 units: Like the Dodge Ram, the Chevrolet Silverado is another highly-targeted pickup truck line that has multiple models perhaps contributing to its numbers. Chevrolet estimates they sell one of these trucks every few seconds, so it should come as no surprise that older models with limited anti-theft devices in particular have been snapped up by thieves across the country.

3. 2006 Ford F-Series Pickup – 32,721 units: Perhaps the only truck that sells more units across the country than the Silverado is the Ford F-Series pickup truck. Ford has also long offered a wide range of models, including multiple engine sizes, which could contribute to higher numbers, but once again the popularity of trucks as theft targets is clearly visible.

2. Honda Civic – 49,547 units: Making a massive jump up to the number two spot, we find the first of Honda’s two entries on this list. Known for being small, simple, reliable, and easy to work on, the Honda Civic is an extremely common vehicle on roads across the country, and a massive target for vehicle thieves, even with odometers well in excess of 100,000 miles or more. In fact, it almost seems like the older these vehicles are, the better for thieves: the most popular model year stolen was 1998.

1. Honda Accord – 50,427 units: Over 50,000 Honda Accords were stolen, with more of them coming from the model year 1997 than any other. Their long-lasting durability and common nature make them an extremely popular target for “chop shops” who steal cars and then sell salvaged parts for profit.

All About New Jersey’s Auto Theft Laws

Auto theft in New Jersey is called “Theft by Unlawful Taking of Moveable Property,” defined by New Jersey Statute 2C: 20-3. Because of the immense value of a vehicle and the special nature of this property, motor vehicle theft is considered a third-degree crime, which can carry penalties of up to five years in prison plus a fine and mandatory driver’s license suspension.

Have you been accused of auto theft? Call the Law Offices of Joseph R. Donahue, LLC today at (201) 574-7919 and request an initial consultation to start developing your defense!
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