Car theft has far-reaching social and economic impacts, totaling billions in losses in 2017.
Chevy and Ford trucks are common targets, but the Honda Accord remains the most stolen.
We examine the data to help you understand car theft and provide ways to protect yourself.   

With the birth of Ford’s mechanical assembly line, the United States became a nation on wheels. As the automotive industry flourished, so too did another vehicular enterprise. Car theft. Authors John A. Heitmann and Rebecca H. Morales in Stealing Cars: Technology and Society from the Model T to the Gran Torino, show how early vehicles were easy to steal and difficult to find. Since nearly all cars of the time looked alike, it was rather challenging for law enforcement. While modern anti-theft technology can deter thieves, it’s worth noting nearly half of all stolen cars today are never recovered. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds a vehicle is stolen every 41 seconds in the U.S. today. Data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reveals vehicle thefts in the U.S. rose last year by more than four percent, according to preliminary 2017 crime data from the FBI.
Perception Versus Reality
Hollywood glamorized the car thief, once in 1974 and again in 2000 with Gone In 60 Seconds. The object of affection for both films is “Eleanor,” an elusive Ford Mustang. However, the reality is far less awesome than Randall “Memphis” Raines leap...