Unfortunately, ever since we have had cars, cars have been stolen. That's right, not only is your car an object of desire for you but it is also automatically an object of desire for somebody else. Thankfully, most people understand the differences between right and wrong and refuse to take what isn't theirs. However, there are those select few who feel it is their right to steal something that does not belong to them, with cars one of the most popular things in the world to take without the owner's consent. In order to make your car less open to being broken into, reports suggest that owners keep their cars parked in front of their houses amongst other vehicles out in the open. The more secluded the more likely it is your car will be next on a car thief's list. In fact, according to the Office for National Statistics (yes that is a real thing), there were almost 400,000 cars reported stolen in 2017 alone. Even worse, 35,000 of those reports were uninvestigated, therefore it seems car thieves are seemingly getting away with it.
So which cars are the most popular? Most people would expect the more expensive a car is the more likely it is to get stolen. However, is it really that simple? The answer is no, with cheap cars, second-hand cars, and even famously bad cars, all open to being broken into and driven away. Sadly, nobody is safe, so here are the top 10 most stolen cars in the world and 10 no thief would touch.
20 Stolen: Ford F-350
The Ford F-Series Super Duty is a series of trucks that range from heavy-duty pickups to Super duty trucks. The range includes the popular F-350 pickup which has now been generated a number of times.
The truck is highly favored among farmers, those in construction and thieves, especially in Canada.
That's right, the Insurance Board of Canada recently published a list of vehicles that were most popular with thieves, with the F-350 taking the top spot. The pickup is often sold abroad, with other countries apparently desperate to get their hands on the famed Ford pickups.
19 Stolen: Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is one of the best selling cars in the world and has been since its conception in 1966. The name Corolla derives from the Latin worth "Corolla" which means "small crown." The series has undergone a number of major redesigns which only seem to have improved the car rather than hinder it. However, as a result, the car is not only popular with regular everyday people but also a favorite of thieves. Yes, in 2015 alone a grand total of 10,547 2014 Corollas were stolen, and that was just in the United States.
18 Stolen: GMC Sierra 1500
The GMC Sierra 1500 is a full-size heavy-duty pickup truck produced by the big boys of the car industry, General Motors. The truck was first introduced in 1998 and has been fairly successful ever since. Annoyingly, car thieves are also fond of the truck with the GMC Sierra 1500 the fifth most likely vehicle to be stolen in 2018.
The truck is a favorite mostly due to the car parts, with car thieves tending to gut the pickup trucks and sell the individual parts instead.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, stealing car parts is now just as common as stealing the car itself, with a recent report claiming, "A recent report on the matter stating, "many of the vehicles that are recovered are missing wheels and rims or other key parts, while ones that are never recovered end up in chop shops where they are quickly dismantled and sold piece by piece."
17 Stolen: Honda Accord
Honda is one of the most famous car brands in the world with the Honda Accord one of their most favored products. Since its debut in 1976, the car has gone on to be successful across the globe and is now one of the best-selling cars in the United States.
In fact, the car was the first imported vehicle to be the number one car in the U.S, which is quite the achievement when you really think about it. The Honda Accord is usually known for its four-door sedan variant, which is probably the most popular vehicle. However, in 2016 a whopping 7,500 Honda Accords were stolen, making it the most likely of the Honda Brand to be taken without the owner's consent.
16 Stolen: Chrysler 300
The Chrysler 300 is rear-wheel-drive, front engine, full-sized metal machine and certainly puts the luxury in luxurious. The car is known for being popular with Hollywood A-listers, and in the mid-2000s the vehicle received a lot of publicity due to a number of celebrity owners.
Rappers such as Snoop Dogg and Drake have all been spotted with a 300. Even BBC's Top Gear got in on the act and proclaimed the car as, "something different with a bit of kitsch gangster cool."
However, publicity often comes with negativity, therefore, as a result, the car ended up on the car most likely to be stolen list.
15 Stolen: Cadillac Escalade
The Cadillac Escalade is a full-size humungous SUV and was the first of its kind, well for Cadillac anyway. The Escalade was first introduced in 1999 and immediately made an impact. Since then it has received critical acclaim and is now available in almost every country in the world. Recently it was reported that the Escalade topped the Highway Loss Data Insititute list of most-stolen vehicles, with the Escalade's sister model also featuring high. Cadillac was worried, so they highlighted the Escalade's vulnerabilities and set to work minimizing the problem. New security features were added on the upcoming models, including improvements to stop push-away and towing thefts and property and wheel theft.
14 Stolen: Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima has been in production since 1992 and is a continuation of the Nissan Bluebird line. The Altima is a popular car, however, it has faced some mechanical issues in the past.
For instance, the car had huge oil consumption issues which resulted in engine failures across the world.
Although these failures may have put off buyers, they haven't seemed to put off criminals, with the car often showing up on the most stolen vehicle list. In fact, in 2013 the car took the number one spot with nearly 10,000 taken and has remained in the top ten ever since.
13 Stolen: Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
Who doesn't love a jeep right? The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a range of Mid-Size SUVs produced by the domestic manufacturer, Jeep. The origins of the car date back to 1983 and have been popular with car enthusiasts ever since. However, the jeeps are also hugely popular with criminals and often end up stolen. That's right, a total of 9,245 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee SUVs were stolen in 2016, with the 2000 model the most popular. Strangely, the Jeep seems to be popular with car thieves located in West Virginia, with the vehicle listed as the third most likely to be stolen in the whole state.
12 Stolen: Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra (or Hyundai Avante as its known in South Korea) is a compact car made in South Korea and extremely popular both abroad and in its native country.
In fact, the 2018 model has been applauded by critics and is currently ranked as the twelfth best compact car in the world.
Unfortunately, this means that car thieves are also fond of the vehicle, with the Hyundai often ending up the most stolen vehicle list. In fact, in 2016, 832 Hyundai Elantra's were reported stolen, with the car usually found ditched or gutted for parts.
11 Stolen: Ford F-450
The Ford F-Series Super Duty is a range of Ford manufactured trucks and are most famed for their heavy-duty pickup trucks. The F-450 is a popular vehicle and is often applauded for its high performance, luxurious interiors and comfortable feel, I mean, it also has a ladder!
Sadly criminals also like the look of the F-450 with the car often ending up stolen and usually gutted for car parts. In fact, most Ford heavy-duty F-Series pickup trucks end up in the hands of car thieves, with the F-450, F-150, and F-350 the most likely to be stolen in the entire world.
10 Ignored: Morris Minor
The Morris Minor is British car that debuted in 1948. The car has become something of a cult favorite, mostly due to its sour appearance and variety of problems. The car was the first British car to sell over a million units and is now known for its "Englishness."
However, although it might be a classic, the car is often ignored by thieves and is one of the least likely vehicles to be stolen.
This mostly due to the lack of safety features on the car itself, making it more than impossible to drive on the roads. Plus, the parts are extremely old and make zero money when gutted for parts.
9 Ignored: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has been in production since 1954 and is manufactured by car giant, Mercedes. The car derives from the German word, Sportlich-Leicht (English: Sport Lightweight), and is supposed to be a toned-down Gran Prix car. The vehicle is extremely popular, especially amongst those with a few extra dollars.
Strangely, despite its wonderful reviews and popularity, the car is rarely stolen which is mostly down to its expense. That's right, car thieves tend to avoid flashy cars as it will be more likely that they will be pulled over or found when the car is reported stolen.
8 Ignored: Volkswagen CC Saloon
The Volkswagen CC is a four-door coupe that bears a similar resemblance to the Volkswagen Passat Saloon. The car is famed for its sensibility as well as its formal style and luxurious body.
Sadly, the car is no longer in production and has been replaced by the Volkswagen Areton, which is extremely similar. As a result, the Volkswagen CC is a car that thieves tend to avoid.
Firstly, it is likely they will be caught, with Volkswagen CC's standing out due to their limited availability. And, secondly, the car just isn't popular anymore with the Areton more likely to be stolen.
7 Ignored: Lexus RX 350
The Lexus RX is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV originally based on the Toyota Highlander. The vehicle has been sold by Lexus since 1998 and has sparked a number of generations and varieties. The RX 350 is one of the most popular cars and is a drivers dream. Furthermore, the car is a great deterrent for thieves, with its advanced alarms and burglary repellents.
Yep, the car is a no go for potential car thieves, with it virtually impossible to break into. OK, so nothing is truly impossible, but only 13 of these beauts was stolen in 2017, showing just how difficult it is to break into one.
6 Ignored: Land Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender is a staple in the British car industry and was at one point one of the most popular cars in the world. The vehicle was first developed in the 1980s and ran for a whopping 67 years. However, despite its popularity, car thieves tend to avoid the land rover for one particular reason, it's a police car! That's right, the British police have been using the Land Rovers for a number of years and continue to do so to this day. Therefore, when a land rover is reported stolen it can be very easy to spot when one has gone rogue.
5 Ignored: Mini Cooper Clubman
The Mini Clubman was first sold as a supermini which then evolved into a small family car. Interestingly, the use of the name "Clubman" was actually a departure from the Mini tradition with the brand hoping to expand their image.
Sadly, the name change didn't help, with the Mini blasted as terrible all over the world.
In fact, Top Gear magazine placed the Clubman on a list of "The worst cars you can buy right now" and described the car as "Lamentable to drive, shuddery, messy and as comfortable as a marble mattress." It seems car thieves have the same opinion, with the car one of the least likely to be stolen in the world.
4 Ignored: Saturn LW2 4 Door Station Wagon
The Saturn L series was a line of vehicles, sedans and station wagons launched by Saturn Corporation in 1999. However, poor sales caused the GM line to cancel in 2005, leaving around 406,300 models altogether. Sadly, the car had a number of issues such as engine failure, transmission failure, and finish issues. Buyers often commented on the noise and vibration along with several other problems.
Furthermore, the car was extremely unattractive and resembled a banana or an overgrown vegetable. Car thieves had the same view and the car was one of the least likely vehicles to be sold throughout the early 00s.
3 Ignored: Jaguar XF 250
The Jaguar XF (X250) is an executive and super luxurious car produced by British car monsters, Jaguar. The XF 250 was first launched in 2007 as a replacement for the not so popular Jaguar S-Type.
The car was applauded worldwide, with Top Gear's, Jeremy Clarkson praising the vehicle. During his review, Clarkson claimed, "I'm not going to, even for a minute suggest that it's [XFR] better than the M5, but it's as-good-as. And praise does not get higher than that." And to make things better the car is also really good at protecting itself, with thieves seemingly unable to break inside. That's right, the car is rarely stolen, with the protection of the car up there with the best.
2 Ignored: Saab 9-3
The Saab 9-3 was originally created in Sweden and produced by car manufacturers, Saab. The car first came into production in 1998 and is not to be confused with the Saab 93 which was produced years earlier between 1955 and 1960.
The car has had a number of bad reviews, especially concerning its archaic handling and obstructive steering.
These bad reviews have seemingly put car thieves off, with the Saab 9-3 a no-go when it comes to stolen cars. That's right, in 2017 alone, just 2 Saab 9-3s were reported stolen with thieves preferring to get their criminal hands on cars with better steering instead.
1 Tesla Model S
