CCC: Toyota Camry Tops Stolen Vehicle List for 5th Year in a Row; Imports Again Dominate List; Trucks and SUVs Gain in Popularity with Thieves
CHICAGO--March 18, 2002--In 2001, for the fifth straight year, the Toyota Camry topped the target list of auto thieves, reported CCC Information Services Inc. But it was the 1991 model Camry that wrested the No. 1 slot among stolen vehicles from the 1989 model, which had held the dubious top honor for the previous four years. Total vehicle thefts continued to decline, falling 2.7 percent last year.CCC, a technology provider to the automotive-claims and collision-repair industry, identifies the most-stolen vehicles each year by analyzing total losses submitted to it by more than 350 property and casualty insurers in North America. In 2001, CCC valued an average of more than 7,000 vehicles a day. It bases its report on total-loss vehicles stolen and never recovered or completely totaled by the theft. CCC doesn't include such temporary auto-related thefts as "joy-rides" or theft of car items such as stereos.
"We process nearly a million claims-related transactions each day, giving us a wealth of theft and collision data which allows us to provide awareness to consumers regarding vehicle theft," said Mary Jo Prigge, CCC's president of sales and service.
In 2001, according to the latest report:
| -- | Vehicle theft, which accounts for about 5 percent of all total losses, decreased 2.7% in 2001 from the previous year. |
| -- | Toyota and Honda models comprised 16 of the top 20 most-stolen vehicles, with the lone domestic entry in the top 10 being the 1994 Chevrolet C1500 4X2 truck, at No.5. The Honda Accord is the most stolen vehicle regardless of model year. |
| -- | Only five domestic vehicles made the top 25 list, including two more Chevrolet trucks, the 1997 Ford F150 4X2 truck, and the 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4X4. But Chevrolet continues to lead as the most-stolen make regardless of model, comprising more than 14 percent of total theft volume. |
| -- | Truck and sport utility vehicles continue to gain the attention of thieves, reflecting their continued growth in popularity, as 2001 marked a 7 percent increase in thefts since 1997. |
| -- | Thefts of full-sized models and "muscle cars," like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, continue to slide, reflecting their fall-off in popularity with consumers. |
| -- | Michigan holds the highest theft rate in the contiguous states, but domestic cars are favorite targets there, not imports. |
"Though we cannot determine with absolute certainty the reason for vehicle theft, trends show that cars are often stolen for the value of their parts," Prigge said. "Vehicle theft historically follows consumers' choices, which is reflected in the popularity of imports and the gaining popularity of trucks and SUVs among thieves."
Toyotas and Hondas lead the most-stolen list partly due to their popularity with consumers. But these cars are popular with thieves also because they tend to have interchangeable parts amongst their model years, creating a profitable market for replacement parts.
In the top 25 most stolen cars, a clustering of Toyota and Honda
model-years highlights the interchangeable nature and demand for their
parts. The 1987-1991 Camry models and six Accords from model years
1990-1997 all are represented in the top 25. This cluster points out
that a bumper, for example, from a 1987 Camry is likely to fit the
1987-1991 Camry models.
SUVs Gain in Popularity
Reflecting the continued growth in popularity of trucks and sport
utility vehicles (SUVs), thefts of these models in the top 100 has
increased seven percent since 1997. In 2001, trucks accounted for
nearly half of all vehicle sales, compared with just 15 percent of the
U.S. market in 1971. SUVs have seen even more rapid growth - to 31
brands offering 56 nameplates in 2001 from 24 brands and 45 nameplates
the previous year and just 28 SUV brands in 1995.
This growth in both trucks and SUVs may also be seen in theft
rates. In 1997, only one truck was found in the top 25; in 2001 there
are four. Since 1997, the percentage of trucks and SUVs in the top 100
total-theft volume has increased to 32.6 percent from 25.7 percent.
Increases in truck and SUV theft reflects a shift in consumer
preferences for vehicles.
This swing is seen in the decline in thefts of full-sized models and "muscle cars." The 1995 Ford Mustang, for instance, was the 35th most stolen car last year, down from the 10th most stolen vehicle in 1997.
The full-sized model with the largest
drop in theft regardless of model year is the Oldsmobile Cutlass
Supreme, falling to number 45 from its peak at No. 6 just four years
earlier.
State-Level Vehicle Theft
CCC also breaks down vehicle theft to the state level. In 2001 at
the state level:
| -- | In California, which has the highest theft volume in the country, thieves historically prefer imports - a trend that continued in 2001. Like the nation, the state's most stolen vehicle was the 1991 Toyota Camry. Only two domestic cars appeared in the state's top 25 list - the 1994 Chevrolet C1500 4x2 and the 1993 Saturn SL. |
| -- | New York car thieves also prefer imports, specifically mid-sized Hondas, Toyotas, Nissans and Mitsubishis. In 2001, the 1994 Honda Accord EX was the favorite of Empire State thieves. A domestic car does not appear on the state's most stolen vehicles list until No. 35 with the 1995 Chevy Blazer 4x4. |
| -- | Mirroring consumer choice in Texas, pickup trucks dominated the state's most-stolen vehicles, taking the first 11 slots and 20 of the top 25. The most stolen vehicle was the 1994 Chevrolet C1500 4x2. |
| -- | When compared to the state's total claim volume, Michigan holds the highest theft rate in the contiguous states. Since foreign demand for U.S.-made cars is often met by shipping stolen cars across international borders for resale, the Great Lakes surrounding Michigan may allow stolen vehicles to be exported easily into Canada. The most stolen vehicles in Michigan are domestic cars, with an import vehicle not appearing on its list of most stolen vehicles until No. 63. |
Editor's note: To view lists or download PDF files of complete state-by-state results of CCC's Most Stolen Vehicles of 2001 report, visit CCC's corporate Web site at www.cccis.com. Additional findings on 2001 vehicle theft and Frequently Asked Questions regarding CCC's Most Stolen Vehicles report are also available on CCC's Web site.
About CCC
CCC Information Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CCC Information Services Group , headquartered in Chicago, IL, is a leading supplier of advanced software, communications systems, Internet and wireless-enabled technology solutions to the automotive claims and collision repair industries. Its technology-based products and services optimize efficiency throughout the entire claims management supply chain and facilitate communication amongst nearly 14,700 collision repair facilities, 350 insurance companies, and a range of industry participants.
Most Stolen Vehicles of 2001 Source: CCC Information Services Inc. Rank Year Make Model 1 1991 TOYOTA CAMRY 2 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY 3 1990 TOYOTA CAMRY 4 2000 HONDA CIVIC SI 5 1994 CHEVROLET C1500 4X2 6 1995 HONDA ACCORD EX 7 1994 HONDA ACCORD LX 8 1994 HONDA ACCORD EX 9 1988 TOYOTA CAMRY 10 1996 HONDA ACCORD LX 11 1993 CHEVROLET C1500 4X2 12 1997 FORD F150 4X2 13 1990 HONDA ACCORD EX 14 1991 HONDA ACCORD LX 15 1996 HONDA ACCORD EX 16 1987 TOYOTA CAMRY 17 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX 18 1992 HONDA ACCORD LX 19 1991 HONDA ACCORD EX 20 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4X4 21 2000 CHEVROLET C1500 4X2 SILVERADO 22 1995 HONDA ACCORD LX 23 1991 ACURA LEGEND 24 1990 HONDA ACCORD LX 25 1995 HONDA CIVIC EX
