America’s passion for pickup trucks is not limited to those who obtain them legally. Thieves enjoy the vehicle type as well, and pickup trucks were the most stolen vehicle in the vast majority of states in 2021.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), pickup trucks were the most commonly stolen vehicle type in 36 of America’s 50 states. In fact, pickup trucks and SUVs were the two most commonly stolen vehicles in 27 states.
In most cases, full-size pickups from Chevrolet and Ford were prime targets for thieves, with older models preferred. According to the bureau, the Chevrolet Silverado was the most frequently stolen vehicle in America in 2021. Chevrolet and Ford pickups, along with the GMC Sierra, accounted for 14% of all vehicles stolen in America in 2021.
Because the majority of states had the most pickups and the two most stolen vehicles, it’s actually easier to list the states where pickups weren’t the most commonly stolen vehicles. You can, however, view the entire list by scrolling to the bottom of the article.
In Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia, the Honda Accord was the most commonly stolen vehicle. The Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee was the most popular target in Illinois, followed by the Dodge Charger in Michigan, the Honda Civic in Minnesota, and the Subaru Forester in Vermont. Given recent news reports, few will be surprised to learn that the Hyundai Elantra was the top target in Wisconsin.
Even when non-state US territories are included, pickup trucks are the most commonly stolen vehicles in more than half of all jurisdictions. However, the Toyota Camry was the most popular target in the District of Columbia, and the Kia Sportage was popular among Puerto Rican thieves.
Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Honda CR-V, and Toyota Corolla were responsible for 15% of all stolen passenger vehicles in the country. According to the NICB, nearly 1 million vehicles were stolen nationwide, an eight percent increase from the previous year, which it attributes to rising used car prices.
When leaving your vehicle, the NICB recommends always locking your doors, rolling up your windows, and keeping valuables out of sight. It also advises against leaving a running vehicle unattended and keeping the key fob away from the vehicle when not in use.
