Auto Theft: Car Models Most Often Stolen

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When it comes to avoiding auto theft, one of the best steps you can take is to steer clear of flashy sports cars, right?

Not necessarily.

Turns out car thieves target big trucks and SUVs more often than smaller cars, according to a November 2008 study by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) and reported in Forbes magazine. The study reviewed theft-claim frequency of vehicles produced in 2005 through 2007.

The No. 1 vehicle targeted by thieves was the 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV. If you're driving around in this monster, understand that it is 15 times more likely to get swiped than your neighbor's shiny new Mercedes E Class sedan, the least stolen vehicle, according to the study. In fact, gas guzzlers made up the bulk of the Top 10.

Most Stolen Car Models

• Honda S2000 convertible
• Dodge Durango
• Hummer H2
• Dodge Magnum
• Hummer H2 SUT
• Ford F-350 SuperCrew
• Dodge Charger
• Cadillac Escalade
• Ford F-250 SuperCrew
• Cadillac Escalade ESV

Least Stolen Car Models

• Ford Freestyle
• Saturn Relay
• Toyota Prius
• Volvo V70
• Ford Focus
• Volkswagen New Beetle
• Buick Terraza
• Subaru Forrester
• Buick Rainier
• Mercedes E-Class

Experts suggest two reasons why SUVs are targeted more often: accessibility and desirability.

Accessibllity & Desirability - Why These?
Sleek sports cars and durable family sedans are typically locked up in a garage or outfitted with anti-theft devices, while trucks like the Ford SuperCrew are parked in the driveway or on the street. That's the theory, anyway. But then accessibility is less a factor than desirability.

And it's not the thieves desire to be seen in the big trucks, either. It is parts and accessories, for one, like audio systems and spinning rims, which can be stripped and resold. For vehicles like the Ford SuperCrew, a favorite of professional contractors and constructions workers, it's the expensive tools that are often kept in the truck beds.