HLDI Reveals List of Most Stolen Cars
8 Oct 2019Video embed code
Two large cars, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and the Dodge Charger HEMI which are known for their powerful engines, made it to the top of the Highway Loss Data Institute’s (HLDI’s) list of most likely to be stolen vehicles.
Both of these cars have a claim rate for whole-vehicle theft that’s over five times the average for 2016 through 2018 models. The Infiniti Q50 which is a midsize luxury sedan does too. Almost all 20 models that have the highest theft rate are either pickups, luxury vehicles or those with big engines.
The regular two- and four-door Dodge Charger is another target. It’s marketed as “America’s mid-sized muscle car” and ranges from almost 300 to over 700 horsepower.
Pricey vehicles with horsepower, bling and pop culture appeal attract thieves, according to Russ Rader, HLDI spokesman.
Other thief-attracting vehicles are the:
- Infiniti QX80
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- Chrysler 300 four-wheel drive
Surprisingly, the two-wheel-drive BMW 3 series, another midsize luxury sedan, topped the least stolen vehicle list. Also, not on the most-stolen list is the Cadillac Escalade, any version, which dominated HLDI’s rankings of popular vehicles for theft.
This is likely because Escalade owners benefit from enhanced security features that are much more than ignition immobilizers that most vehicles today have to keep them from being started without the right key. Because the standard immobilizers didn’t keep the Escalade from being stolen frequently, Cadillac added additional anti-theft features starting with the 2015 model year. These features include:
- Motion detectors
- Glass breakage sensors
- Inclination sensors that trigger an alarm if a thief attempts to tow the vehicle, take the wheels off or lift it onto a flatbed truck
The Tesla Model X and Model S are also on the least-stolen list. This could be due to the fact they’re electric vehicles and are typically parked close to a house or in garages to be close to a power supply. Last year, in a separate report, HLDI showed electric vehicles from various manufacturers have lower claim rates for theft than comparable vehicles.
Even though the models with the highest likelihood to be stolen are pricey, pickups or powerful, vehicle theft is a crime of opportunity.
You can take a look at the other vehicles that made it to the top of HLDI’s most stolen list on the HLDI website.
If you have one of the vehicles included on this list, or even if you don’t and want help in recovering your vehicle in the event it is stolen, consider using a GPS car tracking device.
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