TOP 25 MOST-STOLEN VEHICLES

1. 2001 BMW M-Series Roadster 
2. 1998 Acura Integra 
3. 2004 Mercury Marauder 
4. 1999 Acura Integra 
5. 1995 Acura Integra 
6. 2002 Audi S4 
7. 1996 Acura Integra 
8. 1997 Acura Integra 
9. 2001 Acura Ingegra 
10. 2000 Jaguar XJR 
11. 1994 Acura Integra 
12. 2005 Suzuki Aerio 
13. 2004 Suzuki Aerio 
14. 1998 Land Rover Range Rover 
15. 1998 Jaguar XJR 
16. 2003 Mercury Marauder 
17. 2000 Acura Integra 
18. 2002 Cadillac Escalade 
19. 2000 Audi A8 
20. 2000 Audi S4 
21. 1993 Mercedes-Benz 600 
22. 1995 Land Rover Range Rover 
23. 2005 Cadillac Escalade 
24. 2000 Honda Civic 
25. 2001 Audi S4 

Toyotas and Hondas top 1999 most-stolen vehicle list

Numbers in parentheses are 1998's rank.

  Own a Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord? It's more likely you'll lose it to a thief than will your neighbor who owns an American-made car. The two Japanese imports once again dominate a list of most-stolen vehicles in 1999.

For the third year in a row, Camry's and Accords occupy the top spots as the most-stolen vehicles in the United States in 1999. The 1989 Camry remains No. 1 for the third straight year, followed by Camry's introduced in '90, '91, and '88.

Eighty percent, or 16 of the top 20 most-stolen vehicles, are Toyotas, Hondas, or Acura's. The most-stolen American-made vehicle is the 1997 Ford F-150 4x2 pickup, which jumps to No. 5, from No. 14 in 1998. And Honda Accords introduced in '90, '94, '95, and '96 constitute the rest of the top 10.

The data, released March 1, was compiled by CCC Information Services Inc., a Chicago-based company that documents trends in theft and other vehicle damage claims in the insurance industry. Each year, CCC compiles a list based on total-loss valuations for the previous 12 months.

Thieves' preferences for certain makes depend on where they live, according to CCC's report. They're apt to poach vehicles that are popular in their state or region. For example, in Texas, nine of the top 10 stolen vehicles were pickup trucks. In the Midwest, thieves targeted American-made cars, with the 1995 Plymouth Neon taking the No. 1 spot in Michigan, and the 1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale taking the top spot in Indiana. On the East and West coasts, the most-stolen cars were the Japanese imports.

"What's popular with consumers is usually popular with thieves."

For the past several years, Japanese imports have remained among the most-stolen vehicles. But more pickup trucks were stolen in 1999 than previously, according to the report. In 1998, the top 100 list included only 10 pickup trucks, which translates to 1,579 stolen vehicles. A year later, in 1999, pickup trucks held 18 of the top 100 spots. In other words, 2,395 pickups were stolen the following year, a 52 percent increase, the study shows.

CCC finds that thieves follow consumer demand. The Japanese imports have long remained popular among consumers who tend to value the vehicles for their longevity. The popularity of pickup trucks has grown over the last few years, while the attraction of sport utility vehicles has declined, says CCC spokesperson Jeanene O'Brien.

"What's popular with consumers is usually popular with thieves," O'Brien says. "Parts are in demand, so theft could be a supply for that demand."

Julie Alfonso, spokesperson for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., based in Torrance, Calif., says thieves might not actually be targeting Camry's. Alfonso says Camry's are top-selling cars that outnumber many other models. "By sheer odds, you're going to run into more of these," she says.

The basis of the study

CCC's study focuses on "total-loss" vehicles. These are vehicles that were either stolen and never recovered, or completely totaled by the thief. CCC notes that studies by other organizations reflect auto-related thefts of any kind, including short-term thefts for "joy rides" and thefts of car stereos or personal items for a car.

The study is based on an analysis of CCC's 1999 total-loss insurance claims processed. Last year CCC valued, on average, more than 7,000 vehicles each business day for property/casualty insurers in the United States and Canada. These vehicles, lost through theft or collision, represent the vast majority of the nation's total-loss volume.

Last updated March 1, 2000