Lock your car and keep valuables out of sight: It’s good advice for owners of all vehicles, but it’s particularly pertinent advice for California owners of 1994 Honda Accords.
The 1994 Accord was the most frequently stolen vehicle in 2011 in the Golden State and across the country, according to “Hot Wheels,” an annual crime data report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which was released in August.
The 10 most-stolen vehicles in California are:
- 1994 Honda Accord
- 1998 Honda Civic
- 1991 Toyota Camry
- 1994 Acura Integra
- 2004 Chevrolet Pickup (full size)
- 2006 Ford Pickup (full size)
- 1994 Nissan Sentra
- 2010 Toyota Corolla
- 1997 Nissan Altima
- 1998 Toyota Pickup 4x2
The Honda Accord from various years also is the most-stolen car in 16 other states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia and Washington. It appears somewhere on the top 10 list for almost all states.
DOWNWARD TREND NATIONWIDE
Nationwide, vehicle thefts appear to be on the decline. Early data from 2011 FBI crime statistics show a 3.3 percent decline from 2010, with about 712,800 vehicles stolen.
“Today’s vehicle thieves are typically professional criminals who have figured out how to get the key code for a specific vehicle, have a replacement key made, and steal the vehicle within a matter of days,” according to an NICB news release.
The bureau has released a video (above) that explains key code thefts.
HOW TO KEEP IT SAFE
The NICB recommends four steps to keep your vehicle safe.
- Lock your car and take your keys and valuables with you—most vehicle thefts are crimes of opportunity.
- Having an alarm system or a similar warning device can help.
- Installing or buying a car with a fuel cut-off or a smart key may also help.
- Installing a tracking device on your car so police can monitor its location when the car is reported stolen may aid in recovering the vehicle before too much damage is done.
TOP 10 MOST-STOLEN VEHICLES NATIONWIDE
- 1994 Honda Accord
- 1998 Honda Civic
- 2006 Ford Pickup (Full Size)
- 1991 Toyota Camry
- 2000 Dodge Caravan
- 1994 Acura Integra
- 1999 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)
- 2004 Dodge Pickup (Full Size)
- 2002 Ford Explorer
- 1994 Nissan Sentra
If you have one of these cars, let us know in the comments what you do to keep it safe.
