Love Your Dodge Charger? So Do Thieves
1 Sep 2015When the 1966 Dodge Charger model was introduced by Chrysler, it was not a smashing hit with car muscle car enthusiast consumers. However, it’s second generation of the 1968 – 1970 models was a whole different story striking a very sweet spot with consumers who were seeking a muscular performer all wrapped up in a striking and fresh exterior.
Who can forget ‘Bullitt’ the big-screen 1968’s police drama? Its captivating car chase involved Steve McQueen in his 1968 GT Ford Mustang through the Asphalt Mountains of San Francisco on the tail of mobster hit men driving the 1968 black Dodge Charger R/T.
In a report through the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) showed that the clear favorite among car thieves was the Charger.
This study focuses on the Dodge Charger as well as its history of theft for over the previous 3 1/2 decades. Based on the ‘Hot Wheels Classics’ periodic report, since 1981, over 44,000 iconic sport sedans have been stolen. That averages over 1,300 a year and continues to climb since the return of the 2006 model year Charger.
In fact, the amount stolen in the year 1981, a year when auto theft was far more common, has nearly doubled with nearly 3,500 chargers stolen in 2014. The leading years that showed more
Charger thefts happen in 2009 or later. These years were 2014 with 3,495 thefts, 2011 with 2,967 thefts, 2010 with 2,950 thefts, 2009 with 2,946 thefts, and 2013 with 2,931 thefts.
The fewest thefts happened in the following five years: 2004 with 55 thefts, 2003 with 56 thefts, 2002 with 71 thefts, 2001 with 77 thefts and 2000 with 101 thefts.
The 2006 Dodge Charger, at over 7300 reported thefts, was the Charger with the most thefts. The second and third models with the most thefts were the 2007 with 6,059 thefts and 2,008 with 3526 thefts.
There were five design generations for Chargers from 1968 through 1987 before the halt of production. The Charger then re-appeared after a 19-year lapse for the 2006 model year. The Dodge Charger Pursuit for law enforcement applications was included in this sixth generation.
Now with the upcoming 2016 707-horsepower SRT Hellcat that’s in high-demand and restless buyers are waiting for, it’s said by the FCA that customers’ orders can be placed within the second week of this month. Production will start in September and deliveries will be made in the fourth quarter.
Keep in mind, however, that in 2014, almost a third more Chargers were stolen than say the Chevrolet Camaros, for example and with the Hellcat being an even absurdly faster car, the faster the thieves can get away in it.
What does this mean for you? If you own a Dodge charger, get yourself a GPS tracking device for it. That way, if thieves decide to steal it, you’ll be able to track it down.
Comments are closed.