Key Stats
2004 Theft Statistics: Every 26 seconds, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States. The odds of a vehicle being stolen were 1 in 190 in 2003 (latest data available). The odds are highest in urban areas.
U.S. motor vehicle thefts fell 1.9 percent in 2004 from 2003, according to the FBI\'s Uniform Crime Reports. In 2004, 1,237,114 motor vehicles were reported stolen.
The West was the only region with an increase in motor vehicle thefts from 2003 to 2004, up 3.2 percent. Thefts fell 9.7 percent in the Northeast, 4.4 percent in the Midwest and 2.9 percent in the South.
Nationwide, the 2004 motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 people was 421.3, down 2.9 percent from 433.7 in 2003. The highest rate was reported in the West, 664.5, up 1.7 percent, the only region registering an increase. The rate of motor vehicles stolen was 397.8 in the South, down 4.2 percent from 2003; 341.6 in the Midwest, down 4.8 percent; and 262.5 in the Northeast, down 9.9 percent.
Only 13.0 percent of thefts were cleared by arrests in 2004.
Carjackings occur most frequently in urban areas. They account for only 3.0 percent of all motor vehicle thefts.
The average comprehensive insurance premium in the U.S. rose 11.2 percent from 1999 to 2003, the most recent data available.
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT,
TOP TEN U.S. METROPOLITAN AREAS, 2005
Rank _Metropolitan Statistical Area ___Vehicles stolen ____Rate (1)
..1 ________Modesto, CA ________________7,071 ______1,418.80
..2 ___Las Vegas/Paradise, NV ____________22,465 ______1,360.90
..3 ______Stockton, CA __________________7,586 ______1,167.30
..4 __Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, AZ _________41,000 ______1,103.50
..5 ______Visalia/Porterville, CA____________4,257 ______1,060.20
..6 __Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue, WA _________33,494 ______1,057.60
..7 Sacramento/Arden-Arcade/Roseville, CA__ 20,268 ______1,005.00
..8 San Diego/Carlsbad/San Marcos, CA _____28,845 _______983.90
..9 _____Fresno, CA ,__________________ __8,478 _______978.11
10 ___Yakima, WA _____________________2,212 ________965.54
(1) Ranked by the rate of vehicle thefts reported per 100,000 people based on the 2000 Census.
Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Thefts By Model: The NICB says that the 1995 Honda Civic was the most stolen vehicle in 2004. Motor vehicle thieves continue to target imports over domestic brands. Many vehicles on the top ten list shown below are 10 to 17 model years old. These cars have been consistent top sellers for many years and some of their parts are interchangeable. Thieves dismantle them for their components. The NICB compiles its list using National Crime Information Center data. It differs from the CCC Information list below because it is based on police reports while the CCC report uses insurance claims.
TOP TEN MOST FREQUENTLY STOLEN PASSENGER VEHICLES, 2004
Rank ...Year, ...Make, .Model
.1 ........1995 ......Honda Civic
.2........ 1989 ......Toyota Camry
.3 .........1991 ......Honda Accord
.4 .........1994 ......Dodge Caravan
.5 .........1994 ......Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup
.6 ..........1997 .....Ford F150 Series
.7 ..........2003 .....Dodge Ram Pickup
.8 ..........1990 ......Acura Integra
.9 ..........1988 .....Toyota Pickup
10 .........1991..... Nissan Sentra
Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau.
According to CCC Information Services, which counts total losses (stolen and not recovered or completely totaled) of each particular model from more than 350 property/casualty insurers in North America, and calculates the theft rate based on registrations, the 1995 Saturn SL was the most frequently stolen vehicle in 2003. Below is CCC’s list of the top 25 vehicles stolen in 2003.
TOP 10 MOST FREQUENTLY STOLEN PASSENGER VEHICLES, 2004
Rank Year, .............Make, Model
.1 ......1999............ Acura Integra
.2 ......2002............ BMW M Roadster
.3 ......1998 ............Acura Integra
.4....... 1991 ..........GMC V2500
.5....... 2002 ..........Audi S4
.6....... 1996 ..........Acura Integra
.7....... 1995 ..........Acura Integra 20
.8........ 2004 .........Mercury Marauder
.9 ........1997 .........Acura Integra
10 .......1992 .........Mercedes-Benz 600
Source: CCC Information Services, Inc.
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT IN THE UNITED STATES, 1995-2004
Year ....Vehicles stolen ....Percent change
1995 ......1,472,441 ............-4.3%
1996 ......1,394,238 ...........-5.3
1997...... 1,354,189 ...........-2.9
1998 ......1,242,781 ..........-8.2
1999...... 1,152,075 ..........-7.3
2000 ......1,160,002 ...........0.7
2001 ......1,228,391 ...........5.9
2002 ......1,246,646 ..........1.5
2003...... 1,261,226 ..........1.2
2004 ......1,237,114 .........-1.9
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reports.
Statistics from 2003
Every 27 seconds, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States.
The odds of a vehicle being stolen were 1 in 196 in 2000.
The odds are highest in urban areas.
Only 14.1 percent of thefts were cleared by arrests in 2000.
The FBI\'s 2002 Uniform Crime Report (UCR - released October 27, 2003) indicates there were more than 1.2 million motor vehicle thefts in the United States in 2002 with an estimated value of approximately $8.4 billion dollars.
Sixty-five percent (65%) of stolen vehicles were recovered in 2002 in the United States
Carjackings occur most frequently in urban areas. However, nationwide, they account for only 3.5 percent of all motor vehicle thefts.
The U.S. average comprehensive insurance premium rose 9.0 percent from 1995 to 1999, the most recent data available.
Top Vehicle Thefts by Year, Make, and Model for 2002
1989 Toyota Camry
1994 Honda Accord
2000 Honda Civic
1992 Chevrolet Full Size C/K Pickup
1997 Ford Full Size Pickup (150/250/350)
1993 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass/Supreme/Ciera
1994 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan
1996 Ford Taurus
2001 Toyota Corolla
Source: National Crime Information Center
2002 Top 25 Make and Model Thefts
Toyota Camry
Honda Accord
Honda Civic
Chevrolet Full Size C/K Pickup
Ford Full Size Pickup (150/250/350)
Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
Oldsmobile Cutlass/Supreme/Ciera
Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan
Ford Taurus
Toyota Corolla
Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth Colt
Nissan Sentra
Chevrolet Caprice
Ford Explorer
Chevrolet Cavalier
Chevrolet Compact SUV (Blazer)
Plymouth Voyager/Grand Voyager
Toyota Pickup
Pontiac Grand Am
Ford Escort
Acura Integra
Dodge Ram Pickup
Nissan Maxima
Ford Mustang
Buick LeSabre
Source: National Crime Information Center
Most Popular Model Years Stolen in 2002
1995
1994
1989
1990
1991
1993
1992
1988
1997
1996
2000
2001
1999
1998
1987
2002
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
2003
