The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has identified the 25 most stolen vehicles in the United States in its annual Hot Wheels report. The report examines vehicle theft data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center and determines the vehicle make, model and model year most reported stolen in 2017. Even with the slight increases in the last few years, the national vehicle theft problem today is at levels not seen since 1967. Enhancements in vehicle security and manufacturing are having a positive impact, but thousands of vehicles continue to be stolen each year because owners leave their keys or fobs in their vehicles. Related: Three-quarters of Americans don't recognize this basic car warning symbol
Tips to avoid a jam
Vehicle theft is an economic hardship for its victims — especially if a vehicle is uninsured. Here are four tips from NICB.
- 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.
- Having and using a visible or audible warning device is another item that can ensure that your car remains where you left it.
- 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 that are extremely effective.
- 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.
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Denny Jacob
Denny Jacob is an associate editor for NU PropertyCasualty360. Contact him at [email protected].
