Vehicle theft is a massive problem all over the world. According to the FBI, a car is stolen every 40.9 seconds in the United States alone. That’s over 800,000 stolen vehicles per year just in one country! But what exactly are thieves looking for when they target cars and trucks? Here’s an in-depth look at the most desirable items and vehicles for car thieves.
Electronics
One of the top targets for car thieves are electronics left inside vehicles. Smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, and other electronics are extremely enticing for thieves. These types of items are easy to quickly grab from a car and can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), electronics are stolen in over 25% of all car theft cases. Thieves typically look for visible cords and mounting brackets as an indicator that valuable electronics may be inside.
Most targeted electronics
- Smartphones (iPhones, Samsung Galaxies, etc.)
- Laptop computers
- Tablets (iPads, Kindle Fires, etc.)
- Digital cameras
- Portable GPS navigators
The most effective way to prevent electronics theft is to never leave them in your parked vehicle. If you must leave them behind, conceal them out of sight in a glove compartment, under a seat, or in the trunk. Disconnecting cords and removing mounts also helps hide the presence of electronics.
Money and Valuables
Along with electronics, thieves often target money and other valuables left in vehicles. This includes wallets, cash, credit/debit cards, jewelry, designer sunglasses, and anything else of value. According to the HCSO, thieves take valuables from around 10-15% of stolen vehicles. However, this number may be much higher, as many minor thefts go unreported. Like electronics, any visible cash or valuables can entice thieves to break into a car. The best protection is keeping all money and valuables completely out of sight or not leaving them in your vehicle at all.
Most targeted valuables
- Wallets and purses
- Cash
- Credit/debit cards
- Jewelry
- Sunglasses
- Designer clothing and bags
Hiding valuables in the trunk, under seats, inside the center console, or glove box helps protect them from prying eyes if you must leave them behind. But again, removing them entirely is the best policy when parking your vehicle.
Vehicle Documents
Surprisingly, vehicle ownership documents are also a top target for car thieves. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), over 50% of vehicles stolen have their registration or title documents taken as well. This is because having these documents makes it easier for thieves to chop shop the car, alter VIN numbers, or sell the entire vehicle under fraudulent pretenses. Vehicle documents potentially enable a much bigger payout than just stealing items inside. Registration, insurance cards, and any other documents should be kept completely out of sight or taken with you when exiting the vehicle.
Most targeted documents
- Vehicle registration
- Insurance documents
- Vehicle title
- Repair records
Never leave any documents with your name, address, or other identifying information inside your parked vehicle. Keep these items on you personally or secure them inside your home. Thieves can use documents to engage in identity theft or locate your home address as well.
Loose Objects
Small, loose objects left inside cars are another easy target for thieves. Coins, accessories, clothing, tools, and any other items that are not securely stowed away may entice a thief to break in. According to the OCSO, loose objects are taken in over 20% of vehicle burglaries. Although not as lucrative as electronics or documents, these small items are still an easy steal. Thieves can quickly grab loose change, sunglasses, phone chargers, tools, or anything else in plain sight.
Most targeted loose items
- Coins and small bills
- Phone chargers and accessories
- Sunglasses
- Clothing and shoes
- Tools
- CDs, cassette tapes
Keep your vehicle free of clutter and hide any small loose objects inside the glove compartment, console, compartments, or trunk. Take an inventory of your car’s interior whenever you park and remove or secure anything that could tempt thieves.
Spare Keys and Remotes
Many people hide spare keys and remote fobs inside their vehicles for convenience. However, this provides thieves with everything they need to immediately steal the entire car. According to the FBI, over 50% of stolen cars had a spare key or fob left inside. These irreplaceable items allow thieves to bypass locks and ignition security systems within seconds. Once in possession of keys or a programmed remote, they can simply drive or tow the vehicle away with little resistance.
Never leave spare keys or remotes anywhere inside your vehicle, no matter how well hidden. Keep them on your person or secured safely inside your home instead. This simple step can save you from becoming an easy target.
Pickup Trucks
Pickup trucks attract thieves for their powerful engines as well as the valuables they may contain. Trucks usually have more torque and towing capacity than passenger cars, which aids chop shop operations. The bed also provides ample room to hide stolen items until they can be extracted later. According to the NCIB, over 15% of all stolen vehicles are pickup trucks. That’s nearly 120,000 stolen trucks per year nationwide.
Full-size pickup trucks near the top of the most stolen vehicles list year after year. Thieves target the Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado, Ram 1500, GMC Sierra, Toyota Tundra, Nissan Titan, and other popular models. Trucks with tow packages, lift kits, and performance modifications are especially attractive. Also, trucks used for work often contain expensive power tools and equipment in the cab or bed, adding to their appeal.
Truck owners should take extra precautions like using visible deterrents (steering wheel lock, pedal lock, etc.), installing a truck bed lock box, parking in busy well-lit areas, and never leaving the keys behind. Removing valuables and using tracking systems are also good theft prevention measures.
Sports Cars and Luxury Vehicles
High-end sports cars and luxury vehicles are prime targets due to their powerful engines and premium status. Thieves may attempt to chop shop these cars for parts or export and sell them whole overseas where demand is high. According to the NICB, over 30% of all stolen cars valued over $50,000 are sports cars or luxury models. High-performance and expensive vehicles are simply very lucrative targets.
Luxury and high-performance models most targeted include BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Corvette, Mustang, Challenger/Charger, Range Rover, Jaguar, Tesla, Cadillac, Lexus, and Audi. Owners of these vehicle categories should invest in advanced anti-theft systems, steering wheel/pedal locks, vehicle trackers, locking wheel boot, and other strong deterrents whenever possible.
Hybrid Vehicles
Gas-electric hybrid vehicles have rocketed in popularity over the past decade. Unfortunately, this has also led to hybrids becoming targets for thieves looking to profit. According to the NCIB, hybrid car theft has increased over 200% in recent years. The Toyota Prius tops the list as the most stolen hybrid model.
Thieves target hybrid vehicles for their high-voltage battery packs, which can be removed and sold to chop shops or scrap metal dealers. Full hybrid battery packs can fetch between $500-$2000+ depending on battery size and condition. Catalytic converters are also targeted in hybrids due to higher concentrations of precious metals used.
Hybrid owners should take measures to guard against hybrid battery and catalytic converter theft. Parking in secure areas, installing anti-theft shields/cages, using concealed tracking systems, and etching VIN numbers onto parts are some of the best ways to protect hybrid models.
Most Stolen Vehicles
According to FBI and National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) data, these vehicles are the most targeted by thieves year after year in the United States:
| Vehicle Make & Model | Thefts Per Year |
|---|---|
| Ford Pickup (F-150, F-250, etc.) | 46,000 |
| Chevrolet Pickup (Silverado, Sierra, etc.) | 34,000 |
| Toyota Camry | 17,000 |
| Toyota Corolla | 14,000 |
| Honda Civic | 13,000 |
| Honda Accord | 12,000 |
| Nissan Altima | 12,000 |
| Toyota Prius | 10,000 |
| Ram Pickup (1500, 2500, etc.) | 8,000 |
| GMC Pickup (Sierra, Canyon, etc.) | 7,000 |
As we can see, pickup trucks by Ford, Chevy, Ram, and GMC dominate the most stolen list along with popular Japanese sedans like the Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, and Nissan Altima. Hybrids and luxury vehicles also rank high for thefts in their respective categories.
Where are vehicles most vulnerable to theft?
Location plays a major role in vehicle theft risk. Certain areas, settings, and property types attract more thieves and see higher rates of vehicle burglaries and theft. According to the NICB, these are some of the most vulnerable locations:
- Public parking lots
- Multilevel parking garages
- On-street parking
- Hotel/motel parking lots
- Parking at trailheads, parks, beaches
- Residential driveways
- Apartment/condo parking lots
- Shopping center parking lots
- Office building parking garages
- College campus parking lots
Parking lots and on-street parking provide thieves with easy access to vehicles as well as multiple escape routes. Residential areas with little security are also popular targets. Wherever large concentrations of vehicles congregate, thieves are sure to follow.
steps to avoid high-risk locations:
- When possible, park on a driveway or inside a secure garage at home
- At stores/businesses, park closer to building near cameras/lights
- Avoid parking daily/overnight on streets, alleys, etc.
- At hotels, use valet parking or park in sight of lobby
- Don’t leave car parked out for extended periods
- When traveling, use secure lots near your destination
- At trailheads/beaches use less isolated spots
Choosing well-lit and travelled areas over poorly-lit side spaces reduces your risk substantially. Being thoughtful about where you park significantly improves your odds against theft.
Times of day thieves target vehicles
According to the FBI UCR, most car thieves strike under the cover of night:
- 25% of thefts occur from 6pm to Midnight
- 20% occur from Midnight to 6am
- 15% from 9am to Noon
- 15% from Noon to 3pm
- 12% from 6am to 9am
- 12% from 3pm to 6pm
Clearly, the late evening through early morning period sees the most vehicle theft activity. Thieves use darkness as concealment while breaking into cars. Parking overnight in a lighted, secure area offers better protection.
However, thieves do operate throughout the day as well, especially between 9am to 6pm when vehicles are unattended at workplaces, trailheads, beaches, shopping centers, etc. No time is 100% immune to thefts. But extra vigilance at night helps reduce victimization risk.
Tips to prevent overnight thefts:
- Park in a locked garage or secure lot
- Install motion-sensor lights on driveway
- Use a steering wheel/wheel pedal-lock
- Completely empty car of valuables each night
- Enable all security systems; leave nothing visible
- Park under street lights/camera surveillance if possible
Like securing your home at night, be sure to “lock down” your vehicle each evening through lighting, alarms, theft deterrents, cameras, and extra vigilance.
Prevention Tips Summary
To summarize, here are the top theft-prevention tips for vehicle owners:
- Never leave valuables or electronics visible
- Completely remove spare keys, key fobs, documents
- Utilize anti-theft systems (alarm, ignition kill, GPS)
- Install secondary deterrents (steering/pedal lock, wheel boot, lock boxes)
- Park in well-lit areas near building entrances/exits
- Choose busier parking lots over side lots/dark areas
- Tint windows to obscure interior from prying eyes
- Keep the vehicle interior clean and free of “temptation” items
- If parked outside overnight, enable alarm and any tracking systems
- Avoid leaving car parked for extended periods at vulnerable locations
Following these tips minimizes risk and helps keep your vehicle off thieves’ radar. While no prevention guarantees exist, being smart and vigilant offers the best defense overall.
Conclusion
Vehicle theft can be devastating both financially and emotionally when it happens. But armed with the right knowledge, owners can better protect their cars and trucks.
Electronics, valuables, vehicle documents, loose items, keys and trucks are top targets for thieves. Sports cars, luxury vehicles and hybrids also see high theft rates in their respective classes. Pickup trucks by Ford, Toyota sedans and Honda cars dominate the most stolen vehicle lists. Parking lots, city streets, residential areas and parking garages are vulnerable locations. Overnight through early morning are peak theft times, though daytime periods carry risk as well.
Fortunately, following the prevention best practices summarized above can minimize the chances of becoming a victim. While car thieves are problematic, vehicle owners have helpful tools and knowledge to implement a multi-layered defense.
Stay one step ahead against would-be thieves. Be smart on where, when and how you park while also employing vehicle security systems and techniques. Keeping your car and its contents safe requires effort, but the peace of mind is well worth it.
