No one ever rightly assumes that car thieves are the brightest bulbs in the box, but one starts to wonder about the collective intelligence when the 20-year-old Oldsmobile Cutlass — out of production since 1999 and valued at no more than $1,000, according to Kelley Blue Book — starts showing up as the top car stolen in some states. (We're looking at you, Kentucky.) Given that a grand theft auto conviction typically carries a stiff jail sentence and a hefty fine, is the risk really worth the reward? While criminals might be the only ones able to give a definitive answer, Frank Scafidi, spokesperson for the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), offered an opinion on the matter.

“Why do people steal that vintage of vehicle? There are a couple of theories,” said Scafidi. “Normally, they're easier to break into or make off with an older vehicle than a new one. Then of course, with respect to the last five years of manufacturers, many companies are putting more auto theft prevention or anti-theft technology and devices into cars. They're not theft-proof, but they're more of a deterrent than are earlier generations of anti-theft devices.”

Nationally, the top stolen car is the 1991 Honda Accord, but the NICB also compiled a list of the top 10 cars stolen in each state. To find out which ones are most at risk in your region, go to nicb.org and look up its “Hot Wheels” report. Don't be surprised if you find yourself speculating on their SAT scores, though.