Paul Dreher Director of Personal Insurance View Bio

Protecting your car from being stolen is as important as ever. Overall, car thefts are down to their lowest point since 1967 and down 50 percent since 1991, but it doesn’t mean cars have stopped disappearing. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)’s annual “Hot Wheels” report examines vehicle theft data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and determines the vehicle make, model and model year most reported stolen in 2013.

The most stolen vehicles in the nation (with the total reported stolen) in 2013 were:
Honda Accord (53,995)
Honda Civic (45,001)
Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size) (27,809)
Ford Pickup (Full Size) (26,494)
Toyota Camry (14,420)
Dodge Pickup (Full Size) (11,347)
Dodge Caravan (10,911)
Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee (9,272)
Toyota Corolla (9,010)
Nissan Altima (8,892)

The NICB also released a list of the top 25 most stolen cars makes and models in calendar year 2013:
Nissan Altima (810)
Ford Fusion (793)
Ford Pickup Full Size (775)
Toyota Corolla (669)
Chevrolet Impala (654)
Hyundai Elantra (541)
Dodge Charger (536)
Chevrolet Malibu (529)
Chevrolet Cruze (499)
Ford Focus (483)

After a minor increase in 2012, the FBI predicts a reduction in national vehicle thefts of 3.2 percent when final 2013 statistics are released later this year. The peak year for vehicle thefts was 1991 with 1,661,738. If the FBI’s preliminary 2013 vehicle theft estimate holds, thefts will be under 700,000 — a number not seen since 1967 and a reduction in vehicle thefts of over 50 percent since 1991.

“We like to see car thefts reduced,” said Lawley Insurance Director of Personal Lines Paul Dreher. “But a vehicle is still being stolen every 45 seconds which amount to over $4 billion a year lost to owners. We are excited to see vehicle manufacturers improve anti-theft technology and strive to continue to work with us at Lawley and law enforcement to identify and seek vigorous prosecution of those responsible for these thefts.”

Here are a few tips to keep your car protected:
-Make sure you lock your car at all times, even when you think its safe in a driveway or garage
-Don’t leave valuables in plain sight inside your vehicle
-While it might keep your car cooler in the summer, keep your windows rolled up so a thief cannot use a tool to open your lock

The Lawley Insurance personal lines team is here to help protect your vehicle and other property. For more tips, follow our blog or contact an agent here.

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