Forget Tesla, thieves are targeting cars and powerful vans

Teslas is perhaps the most used car, but these are not the most popular models with car thieves. In fact, new data shows that the main targets of auto theft are the powerful cars and gas vans.

"None of the models on the list of the most stolen vehicles is cheap," said Matt Moore, vice president of the Highway Loss Data Institute, which tracks insurance claims statistics. "Thieves are looking to make money, so they are looking for more expensive models."

This year, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat had the second highest flight rate among the 2016-2018 model year vehicles, according to HLDI. According to the Edmunds Automotive website, the manufacturer's suggested retail price for a 2018 Challenger Hellcat was $ 64,295. Meanwhile, the average transaction price of most popular vans now exceeds $ 40,000.

For over two decades, the institute has indicated which vehicles are the most and least likely to be stolen. According to the HLDI, this year the Tesla Model S and Tesla Model X have two of the lowest flight rates.

Mr. Moore explained that one of the reasons why the two Tesla vehicles are nearly 90% less likely to be stolen than the average car could be that many electric cars are parked in garages or at near homes, so that they are close to a power source to recharge the batteries.

"The theft of vehicles is a crime of opportunity, and electric cars parked in locked garages where they are recharging certainly complicate things for a thief," he said.

The frequency with which a car or truck is stolen has an impact on the price that owners pay for auto insurance. Thus, models with a higher rate of theft will probably carry a higher insurance premium, especially if cars are driven to areas of the country where car theft is most prevalent.

Overall, the number of car thefts is decreasing in the United States. According to the National Crime Insurance Bureau, 773,139 vehicles were stolen in 2017, down 53% from 1991, when the number of flights reached 1.66 million.

1. Dodge Charger HEMI
2. Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
3. Infiniti Q50 4 doors
4. Infiniti QX80
5. GMC Sierra 1500 Cabin
6. Dodge Challenger
7. Nissan Maxima
8. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
9. Chrysler 300 4WD
10. Mercedes-Benz S Clbad

Source: HLDI

1. BMW 3 Series 4 doors
2. Tesla Model S 4WD
3. Tesla Model X 4WD
4. Chevrolet Equinox 4WD
5. Buick Encore 4WD
6. Subaru Legacy (with EyeSight)
7. GMC Acadia
8. Subaro Forester (with EyeSight)
9. GMC Acadia 4WD
10. Volkswagen New Beetle

Source: HLDI