Stats. The Honda CR-V remains on our list of most stolen cars in America. From 12,309 thefts recorded in 2020, it now has 13,308 in 2021.
A national study found that Australia's most expensive stolen vehicles were Rangers and the HiLux. The study, by insurer Budget Direct, said the Holden Commodore VE was the highest model stolen by numbers in all but two capital cities, while the HiLux and Ranger represented the highest individual vehicle by value.
Both Mantyk and Van Slyke are victims of the so-called "Kia Challenge" -- a viral social media challenge that sparked a surge in thefts of Kia and Hyundai cars across the United States. Thieves targeted certain Kia and Hyundai models manufactured between 2011 and 2022 that lack anti-theft controls.
The vehicles in question, 2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia models, such as the Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson and the Kia Forte and Sportage, when equipped with turn-key ignitions — as opposed to cars that only require a button to be pushed to start — are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of a similar age.
Affected vehicles include 2017-2020 Hyundai Elantras, 2015-2019 Hyundai Sonatas, and 2020-2021 Hyundai Venues. Hyundai and Kia have partnered with local law enforcement to provide free steering wheel locks to consumers with affected vehicles.
Thieves target Kia and Hyundai models that are easier to steal, MPD says. Thefts of two particular car brands are on the rise in Memphis. Kia models newer than 2011 and Hyundai cars newer than 2015 are the primary targets. Experts say they are the easiest cars to steal, but there are ways to discourage thieves.
The vehicles in question, 2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia models, such as the Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson and the Kia Forte and Sportage, when equipped with turn-key ignitions — as opposed to cars that only require a button to be pushed to start — are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of a similar age.
1.3 Top 10 motor vehicle theft targets in 2021
For the third consecutive year, data from the NMVTRC [1] show that the Holden Commodore VE MY06_13 was the most stolen single model of car in Australia. As a collective model of car, the Toyota Hilux and Holden Commodore were two of the most targeted cars in 2021.
Using those parameters, a total of 21,711 SUVs/CUVs were reported stolen during the period. The top five makes and models stolen during the period were: Ford Escape (1,421), Ford Edge (1,140), Ford Explorer (958), Jeep Grand Cherokee (912) and the Kia Sorento (725).
According to NPR, about $70 million worth of goods was shipped from Sweden to North Korea in the decade. But Korea never paid Sweden back. Soviet diplomats called the incident "the largest car theft in human history", Unilad reports.
According to a study from CCC Information Services, silver cars are stolen more often than any other car color. This is most likely because it is such a neutral color and will be less likely to stand out and be seen in a crowd of vehicles. Generally, the more unique your car color is, the safer it will be from thieves.
For example, Toyota, Honda and Saturn vehicles between the model years of 1980 and 2000 are the most common ones taken using shaved keys. These earlier model cars and trucks used very similar ignition systems, making them easily defeated with the use of a shaved key.
Their low theft rate may be related to the fact that, as electric vehicles, they are usually parked in garages or close to a house [located] near a power supply.
According to Consumer Watchdog, the top ten hackable vehicle models are Ford F-150, Dodge Ram 1500, Chevy Silverado, Toyota Rav 4, Honda CRV, Nissan Rogue, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla. Consumer Watchdog also listed Tesla as the world's most hackable car.
In fact, he and others say, a manual transmission is easier to steal. “If I saw a car in a parking lot and there's nothing in front of it, I'd simply put it in neutral and push it away,” says Sgt. Don Lusk, a veteran detective with the Michigan State Police auto theft squad in Detroit.
According to multiple class-action lawsuits filed last year, 2011-2021 model year Kias and Hyundais without immobilizers—identifiable by their keyed ignitions—are prime targets. Owners with push-button start needn't worry so much, as their vehicles came standard with this theft-prevention measure.
More theft claims than all other car brands combined
Hyundai and Kia in February rolled out free anti-theft software updates for millions of vehicles. The changes extended the length of an alarm sound on the cars from 30 seconds to one minute and requires the key to be in the ignition switch to turn a vehicle on.