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Full-Size Pickups Prized by Auto Thieves

Three full-size pickups — Chevrolet, Ford, and GMC — were among the top 10 most stolen vehicles on the NICB’s 2021 Hot Wheels report.

July 20, 2022
Full-Size Pickups Prized by Auto Thieves

The National Insurance Crime Bureau just released its annual Hot Wheels report.

Source: NICB

2 min to read


Full-size pickups accounted for 14% of the nearly 1 million stolen vehicles in the U.S. in 2021, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) annual Hot Wheels report.

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Three full-size pickups made the top 10 list for most stolen vehicles nationally. As in 2020, Chevrolet and Ford pickups took the two top spots, with 48,206 and 47,999 thefts, respectively, in 2021. The GMC full-size pickup ranks sixth on the list with a total of 15,599 thefts.

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Overall, passenger vehicle thefts increased 8% in 2021 compared to 2020. Moreover, there has been a nearly 35% increase in used car values over the last two years due to supply chain issues and inflation, notes NICB. Stolen cars can be shipped overseas and resold or broken down for valuable used car parts here in the U.S.

In the case of the three pickups, thieves tend to favor relatively old models. 2004 was the Chevrolet model year most often stolen. For the Ford pickup it was 2006, and for the GMC it was 2005.

Noteworthy, full-size pickups and mid-sized sedans on the Hot Wheels list are also best sellers. Popularity and availability are likely contributors to their high theft numbers. For example, the Ford F-Series pickup has been a top-selling vehicle in the U.S. for decades.

Other vehicles that ranked among the top 10 most stolen in 2021 include the Honda Civic and Honda Accord, with 31,673 and 30,274 thefts, respectively. Both cars have long been targets of thieves.

Two Toyota models also made the list. The Toyota Camry ranks fifth for most stolen vehicles, with a total of 17,270 thefts in 2021. And the Toyota Corolla takes the 10th spot with 12,927. Nissan Altima ranked seventh with 14,108 thefts, followed by Honda CR-V (13,308), and Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee (13,210).

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