Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Minnesota

The sad fact is that car thieves can strike anyone. In the past, it may have been teenagers looking for a quick joyride, but modern car thieves are more organized.

In many cases, stolen cars today are taken by pros to be sent overseas or are picked up by chop shops who will split out the parts and leave nothing behind but a pile of bolts.

Newer cars are taken because they’re popular, but the older models are snatched for the parts that are no longer in production.

While car thefts happen universally, there seems to be a pattern to many thefts in the state of Minnesota. Continue reading the article to learn more about which cars are targeted in Minnesota and what you can do to protect your property.

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A Rhyme and Reason

Throughout the nation, there is a rising incidence of car theft. The truth of the matter is, no matter where you live, your vehicle may be more likely to be stolen based on several factors:

• The make and model of your car
• Where you park your car
• Where you store your spare keys
• The safety features (or lack thereof) on your car
• Whether you leave your car unlocked or your motor running

While it makes sense that some of these factors, like leaving the keys in your car, contribute to theft, other factors may seem unpredictable. This makes it all the more important to be mindful of your situation to understand your potential for loss.

Your Zip Code

While there is a clear pattern of car theft in most areas, researchers have also found that a lot regarding car theft depends on where a person lives.

Because of this, it’s a good idea — whenever you are moving to a new state or searching for a new residence — to consider the neighborhood you would be moving into. There are even specific ways for you to research a potential neighborhood and its crime report statistics from past years.

In Minnesota, for example, St. Joseph is considered the safest city in the state. With an average of 2.99 property crimes for every 1,000, the city is a safe place to live and work, thus making it a safer place to own a home and store a vehicle.

In other cities, however, property crimes may be far more frequent. If that is the case, it is more likely that you will end up losing a car to theft.

Minnesota’s Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles

Peruse the vehicles below to find whether the car you own made it on Minnesota’s top 10 list. Then, be sure to read the rest of the article for insight into how to keep your car safe.

10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Minnesota

(Click here for an interactive chart)

#10 – 1996 Acura Integra

The 1996 Acura Integra has been trending for years as one of the most commonly stolen cars throughout the United States.

As an upper midsize car, the Acura Integra stands out to potential thieves as a good find, and Acura Integras with consecutive model years (1994-2001) make up eight of the top 25 spots for stolen cars.

#9 – 2010 Toyota Corolla

An extremely popular model, the Toyota Corolla is a target for thieves because of its size and sheer volume on the roads. The 2010 Toyota Corolla is the most-stolen of any later model compact car in the U.S., according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s ongoing research.

#8 – 2003 Dodge Caravan

An unlikely pick in most scenarios, the Dodge Caravan is number eight on Minnesota’s list of top 10 most stolen vehicles.

Some researchers suggest, much like the Toyota Corolla, that the 2003 Dodge Caravan is stolen because there are simply so many on the road. At any rate, many writers and commentators have had a good laugh at Minnesota for choosing such a strange vehicle as one of its top picks to steal.

#7 – 2004 Chevrolet Impala

Entering in at number seven on the list is the 2004 Chevrolet Impala. Though this make and model comes standard with an anti-theft alarm and offers several add-ons for additional protection, that doesn’t seem to deter thieves as much as people might hope.

#6 – 1999 Honda CR-V

Among the higher-end cars stolen in the United States is the Honda CR-V. The 1999 Honda CR-V often lacks in anti-theft devices, but some car owners don’t make thieves work too terribly hard to steal their cars in the first place.

According to research, around 20 percent of all vehicles that are stolen come with their original set of keys because, for whatever reason, car owners felt they could safely leave the keys in the car.

#5 – 1999 Toyota Camry

The fifth most stolen car in Minnesota is a commonly stolen car throughout the U.S.

The 1999 Toyota Camry is a popular car for many thieves. While researchers cannot pinpoint one single reason, many suspect that the Camry is often sold to chop shops for parts.

#4 – 2005 Ford Pickup (full-size)

The 2005 Ford Pickup is a popular car to steal not only in Minnesota but Canada as well. The Insurance Bureau of Canada released a statement informing full-size Ford pickup owners that their trucks were extremely likely to be targeted for theft, especially the older models.

Many thieves look for all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles for the often icy terrain, and this may be another reason thieves are targeting the 2005 Ford Pickup in Minnesota as well.

#3 – 1999 Chevrolet Pickup (full-size)

Coming in at the third spot, the 1999 Chevrolet full-size pickup is another common target for thieves in Minnesota. This truck is a popular model to steal throughout the U.S., coming in at the seventh most-stolen vehicle across the nation.

#2 – 1997 Honda Accord

Consistently ranking in the top five of the most stolen vehicles in the United States, the 1997 Honda Accord has been a popular car to steal for quite some time.

The 1997 Honda Accord offers parts that are worth more than the used car itself. For many thieves, this is a good enough reason to target this make and model.

#1 – 1998 Honda Civic

Taking the top spot for Minnesota’s most stolen cars, the 1998 Honda Civic is a relatively simple car to steal. With little to no anti-theft protection and parts worth a large sum, thieves often target the ’98 Civic because they know it is worth a lot more than people assume.

Protect Yourself from Theft

According to experts, there are a few things you can do to make yourself less susceptible to car theft.

Start by parking in well-lit areas when leaving your car overnight. If you park in a home garage, you are already less of a target than if you park in your driveway. If you must park on a public street, try to park under a lamppost or near some other form of light. This will make thieves less likely to target your car.

Next, leave your car locked.

One of the unique challenges in Minnesota is the need to warm the car up for a few minutes before driving off.

Whenever you can, avoid leaving your car running altogether. It simply makes your vehicle too easy to steal. If you must warm up your car before you plan to drive, either stay with the car while it’s warming up or invest in a remote start system so that your car can idle without the key in the ignition.

And Lastly, invest in anti-theft and warning devices to alert you when someone is attempting to steal your vehicle.

While these elements may cost a bit extra, they will help you ensure that your car is taken care of and may even help lower your monthly premium for auto insurance with a discount for safety features.

What if your car is stolen?

You already have a good idea of how to avoid being a victim, but you should also know what to do just in case your car is stolen. Follow these steps if you ever find that your car has vanished:

• Put the VIN with your insurance card so that you’ll have the information on hand if you ever need it.
• Contact police immediately and preferably from the scene. Waiting gives criminals more time to swap plates or hide the car.
• Call your insurance company to get the claims process started. It may take a little time to determine how they’ll cover the theft, but you can take advantage of rental car coverage while you’re waiting.

Car Theft and Auto Insurance

A stolen car will only be covered by your insurance if you have comprehensive coverage. In addition to covering the loss of the entire vehicle due to theft, comprehensive coverage may also cover different parts of the vehicle that are lost or stolen, such as airbags or tires.

If you want to be sure that you’re covered in the event of theft, you will need to purchase comprehensive insurance.

This optional coverage will provide you with the most thorough protection, but it does come with a higher premium.

Insurance companies take advantage of statistics to help set risk levels, and they will look to see if your car is on a Top 10 list. If your car tends to attract more criminals, then you’re likely to pay a higher rate.

Your rates are more likely to be impacted by your driving record than anything else.

Insurance companies determine rates by looking at potential risks, and someone who files claims is considered a higher risk. Even if the claims aren’t your fault, the number of claims you file can still play a role in your premiums.

If you’ve recently watched your rates go up and feel like your insurance company is not treating you fairly, then it may be time to shop around. You can easily switch plans, and comparison sites make it easy for you to look at comparable plans and see who has the best coverage at a lower premium.

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