Full-size trucks and SUVs are more likely to be stolen in the US than any other vehicles.
The Cadillac Escalade topped the Highway Loss Data Institute’s (HLDI) list of the most stolen vehicles for 2008-2010, and was joined by seven other herculean haulers in the top 10.
Most stolen vehicles:
- Cadillac Escalade
- Ford F-250
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Ford F-450
- GMC Sierra
- Chrysler 300
- Ford F-350
- Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
- GMC Yukon
- Chrysler 300 Hemi
The Chrysler 300 was the only traditional passenger car to make the top 10.
Highlighting the cars that are targeted by thieves is a useful piece of consumer advice. But the obvious question is: What cars are at the bottom of the list? Or: What cars don’t the thieves want?
The bottom 10 from HLDI’s data includes a number of smaller and medium vehicles, as well as cars that are much more difficult for thieves to make a successful getaway in.
Least stolen vehicles:
- MINI Cooper Clubman
- BMW 5 Series
- Chevrolet Aveo
- Saturn Vue
- Lexus RX 350
- Chevrolet Equinox 4WD
- Chevrolet Equinox
- Volkswagen (Passat) CC
- Mercury Mariner
- Audi A6
In the case of the BMW, Lexus and Audi, the HLDI said the vehicles were fitted with excellent ignition immobilisers, making them impossible to hot-wire.
More expensive cars are also more likely to be locked up in garages rather than parked out on the street, further reducing their chance of being stolen.
HLDI senior vice president Kim Hazelbaker said, in some cases, the thieves also thought the vehicles in the bottom 10 were simply not worth going to jail for.
In related news, a Ghanaian man has been sentenced to 110 years in prison for his involvement in stealing two vehicles.
Victor Owusu was charged with stealing two vehicles – a Toyota RAV4 and a Volkswagen Passat – at gunpoint in July.
The 36-year-old was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the first offence and 50 years for the second.
