Most stolen vehicles in Georgia in 2013
1. 1996 Honda Accord
2. 1999 Chevrolet pickup (full size)
3. 2005 Ford pickup (full size)
4. 2000 Dodge Caravan
5. 2000 Honda Civic
6. 1998 Jeep Cherokee
7. 2005 Chevrolet Impala
8. 2003 Dodge pickup (full size)
9. 1999 Toyota Camry
10. 2002 Ford Explorer
Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau
If your car, truck or SUV does not appear on annual lists of most stolen vehicles you can credit your smart key and other safety devices that are now standard on even entry-level models.
“The biggest single factor for fewer thefts is more than likely technology,” said Frank Scafidi, spokesman for the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which released its latest “Hot Wheels” report this week on most stolen vehicles for 2013. “More affordable cars are coming right off the assembly line better protected,”
The group says a vehicle is stolen every 45 seconds in the country.
Honda Accords built in the mid-1990s are still the most alluring to thieves, with the 1996 model leading the most-stolen list in Georgia last year. Millions of older Hondas are still on the road, and their interchangeable parts continue to be in demand, making the vehicles a major target of thieves.
Fewer vehicles, however, are being stolen. The FBI, which tracks auto thefts, expects overall incidents to be under 700,000 nationally for 2013, a 3 percent drop from 2012. For perspective, 1.6 million vehicles were stolen in 1991, and thefts have dropped more than 50 percent since then.
In addition to technology, including ignition kill switches that immobilize engines, fuel cut-offs and tracking devices, more aggressive tactics by law enforcement and simply locking vehicles have also helped cut thefts.
There is still a big market for stolen cars, however, especially luxury vehicles, and buyers should beware if a deal sounds too good to be true.
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