Cheap Used Cars Were The Most Stolen In 2010
MOST STOLEN CAR. Honda Accord '94 is still the favorite used car of thieves in USA.
Ides Plaines, Illinois - The National Bureau of Crimes to Insurers (NCIB for its acronym in English), announced the results of their study "Hot Wheels", which includes the most stolen cars in America. The Honda Accord manufactured in 1994, besides being a cheap used car, remains as the favorite of thieves.
This survey is the only one that examines all the theft data regardless of the insurance status of the vehicle, providing a more complete picture of the trend. For example, some old and cheaper models are popular among thieves because of the value of their parts, besides many of them don't have an insurance against theft, while newer models, which are more expensive, usually are insured and generally they are stolen for resale with false VIN identification numbers or they are also sent abroad to countries like Mexico or some other from Central America.
Favorite cars of thieves last year
According to Nationwide, for the first time since 2002, thieves preferred local brands rather than foreign. Ford remained with three places, Dodge remained with two, and Chevrolet just one, while Honda, Toyota and Acura, completed the list. However, Honda and Toyota took the "places of honor", a tendency that has continued for more than 10 years.
The good news is that, thefts have decreased. Preliminary, FBI statistics for 2010, showed a decline of 7.2% compared to 2009, and it seems this year they will have the least number of thefts since 1967.
The new technology is one of the keys to help reducing car thefts, from the 52,000 units of Honda Accords stolen in 2010, 44,000 were models made in the 90's and only 5,700 were built from 2000 onwards.
But while thefts seem to have reduced, they have not disappeared, so the NCIB advises motorists to use common sense, i.e. close the doors and take keys with them, besides not leaving valuables at sight because this draws more attention of thieves. It is also a good idea for those driving cheap used cars, to include visual or auditory warning devices, immobility devices and tracking systems.
In case you are considering buying a used car, you should review the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the car's history from 2005 onwards, suggests the NCIB. And don't forget, if you own an economy inexpensive car, don't think it doesn't have value for thieves, your car sold by parts, worth more than what you think.