Professional Car Thieves' Favorite Target in 1998: Toyota Camry
22 February 1999
Professional Car Thieves' Favorite Target in 1998: Toyota Camry
CCC Information Services Releases 1998 Most Stolen Vehicles Report
CHICAGO, Feb. 22 -- Japanese cars in 1998 again stole the top
spots as the vehicles most often stolen by professional car thieves: Toyota
Camrys were the first-, second- and third-most stolen vehicles in the United
States; and 85 percent of the Top 20 most stolen vehicles were Toyotas, Hondas
or Acuras. But regional differences are apparent. In Texas, for example, the
top choice of professional car thieves was pickup trucks; while in the
Midwest, they not only buy American, but steal American: Chevrolets, Fords,
Cadillacs, Plymouths, Oldsmobiles and Buicks dominate the most-stolen vehicle
lists in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
These are some of the major findings in CCC Information Services' 1998
Most Stolen Vehicles Report, compiled annually by CCC based on total loss
valuations for the previous 12 months. For 1998, CCC found that the 1989
Camry was stolen more frequently than any other vehicle, followed by the 1988
and 1990 versions of the same car. The '89 Camry also was the most stolen
vehicle last year; in 1996, it was the Honda Accord.
"Toyotas, Hondas and Acuras have sold well for much of the past decade,"
notes Jack Rozint, senior vice president of CCC. "Their parts are in demand
-- including, unfortunately, stolen parts. Professional car thieves meeting
this demand have made these the most-stolen vehicles of the late 1990s."
Unlike other studies, CCC focuses on "total loss" vehicles -- those that
were either stolen and never recovered, or completely totaled by the thief.
By contrast, other studies reflect auto-related thefts of any kind, including
temporary thefts for "joy rides" and thefts of car stereos or personal items
from a car.
Fully 85 percent of the Top 20 most stolen vehicles were Toyota Camrys,
Toyota Corollas, Honda Accord EXes and LXes, and Acura Legend automobiles.
The only American models in the Top 20 were the 1997 Ford F150 4x2 XL (#14),
1995 Ford Mustang (#15) and 1989 Chevrolet Caprice (#16). In all, 48 of the
Top 100 most stolen vehicles were Japanese imports.
CCC's 1998 Most Stolen Vehicles Report breaks down the rate of theft by
state, revealing interesting regional differences:
-- Reflecting the Detroit influence, Michigan's Top 50 most stolen
vehicles were American cars -- with the 1995 Plymouth Neon ranking
first and the 1995 Dodge Neon ranking second.
-- California's stats closely followed the national results, with 43 of
the top 50 most stolen vehicles being imports.
-- It's a big state, and pickups are part of the lifestyle: In Texas, the
1997 Ford F150 XL 4x2 and the 1998 Ford F150 4x2 were stolen more
frequently than any other make or model.
-- Topping the list in cosmopolitan New York were several late-model
Japanese imports: the 1997 Toyota Corolla, 1997 Nissan Maxima GLE and
1997 Nissan Maxima SE. Two Japanese sport-utility vehicles cracked
the Top 20: The 1997 Toyota Landcruiser 4x4 ranked fourth, and the
1997 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 ranked fifteenth.
-- Along with baseball, hot-dogs and apple pie, the Midwest likes
Chevrolets. In Illinois, the most stolen vehicles were the 1987 Chevy
Caprice, 1989 Caprice and 1988 Caprice, followed by the 1987 Olds
Cutlass Supreme.
The CCC Most Stolen Vehicle study identifies the 100 most frequently
stolen vehicles over the past year and is based on an analysis of CCC's 1998
total loss insurance claims processed. In 1998, CCC valued on average more
than 7,000 vehicles each business day for leading property/casualty insurers
in the U.S. and Canada. These vehicles, lost through theft or collision,
represent the vast majority of the nation's total loss volume.
CCC Information Services Inc. , headquartered in Chicago,
Ill., is the automotive claims industry's leading supplier of advanced
software and communications systems. Its value-added, technology-based
products and services increase efficiency and facilitate communication among
more than 13,500 collision repair facilities, 4,400 dealerships, 350 insurance
companies and a range of business partners. For more information about CCC
Information Services, contact Peter Duckler at HLB Communications at
312-649-0371.
Most Stolen Vehicles Report
For 1998
Source: CCC Information Services Inc.
Rank Year Make Model-Name
1 1989 Toyota Camry
2 1988 Toyota Camry
3 1990 Toyota Camry
4 1994 Honda Accord EX
5 1990 Honda Accord EX
6 1997 Toyota Corolla
7 1992 Honda Accord LX
8 1995 Honda Accord EX
9 1991 Toyota Camry
10 1996 Honda Accord EX
11 1991 Honda Accord EX
12 1988 Honda Accord LX
13 1996 Honda Accord LX
14 1997 Ford F150 4X2 XL
15 1995 Ford Mustang
16 1989 Chevrolet Caprice
17 1989 Honda Accord LX
18 1981 Honda Accord LX
19 1987 Toyota Camry
20 1991 Acura Legend
21 1996 Toyota Corolla
22 1989 Chevrolet C15 4X2
23 1992 Honda Accord EX
24 1990 Honda Accord LX
25 1994 Honda Accord LX