This Popular Truck Is The Most Stolen Vehicle In The US

With fewer vehicles on the road in 2020, it didn’t stop the number of car and truck thefts during the year, as there was a “dramatic increase” in the number stolen compared to 2019.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, one car was stolen every 36 seconds in 2020, and some of the most stolen vehicles proved to also be the most popular among consumers.

The Hot Wheels report from NICB showed that the full-size Ford pickup was the most targeted vehicle by thieves for the second year in a row, with thefts increasing 13% from 2019. A total of 44,014 Ford trucks were stolen in 2020, with the most common model year stolen being 2006.

Trailing the Ford truck was the full-size Chevrolet pickup truck, with 40,968 units stolen in 2020, up 25.7% from a year earlier. Thieves had their eye on 2004 models, stealing this truck version most often.

The Ford and Chevy trucks were followed by the popular Honda Civic sedan that saw an increase of 2.8% compared to 2019 and was formerly the second-most-stolen vehicle. In 2020, 34,144 Civics were stolen.

Also making the NICB’s Hot Wheels Top 10 list of most stolen vehicles in 2020 were the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, GMC full-size pickup truck, Toyota Corolla, Honda CR-V and Dodge full-size pickup truck. Each vehicle saw a theft increase compared to 2019, with thousands of vehicles stolen for the year.

NICB attributed the increase in vehicle thefts for 2020 to the downturn in the economy during the pandemic as well as a realignment in law enforcement, depleted social and school programs, and owner complacency.

David Glawe, president and CEO of the NICB, said in a statement, “For many people, a car is the second-largest investment they will ever make behind a home. No matter what kind of vehicle you have, take steps to protect your investment – lock your car and take your keys.”

NICB reminds vehicle owners to remove their keys from the ignition, lock their doors and windows, park in well-lit areas, and install warning, immobilizing, and tracking devices to prevent would-be thieves from stealing their vehicles.