The Auto Writer

Old, But Car Thieves Still Love Them!

Honda Civic owners already know how lovable their rides are, but so do car thieves. In a report released this week by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) the Civic was the most stolen car in 2007 as it was in 2006. No, not the newest Civic, mind you, rather the 1995 Honda Civic.

Hot Wheels 2008 is the name of the NICB survey which reveals what thieves are looking for when stealing cars: select older models that are in demand for their parts.

The most stolen vehicles in 2007 were:

1. 1995 Honda Civic
2. 1991 Honda Accord
3. 1989 Toyota Camry
4. 1997 Ford F-150 Series Pickup
5. 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup
6. 1994 Acura Integra
7. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
8. 1994 Nissan Sentra
9. 1988 Toyota Pickup
10. 2007 Toyota Corolla

Car Thefts Are On The Decline

The FBI’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR) for 2007 is showing that car thefts for 2007 are down compared to 2006, a preliminary drop of 8.9%. The FBI will finalize these figures later this year, but a significant drop is likely.

“The continuing national decrease in vehicle theft is a positive sign that the fight against vehicle theft by law enforcement, the insurance industry and the NICB continues to be effective,” said Robert M. Bryant, NICB’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

Besides employing sensible precautions to prevent theft including locking your car doors and taking your keys with you, the NICB recommends that consumers install warning, tracking, and immobilizing devices to keep thieves away. The non-profit organization also recommends that consumers use their free VINCheck service to verify the ownership of a used vehicle before you purchase it.