For the second year in a row, Chevrolet and Ford full-size pickups took the top two spots in the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s annual Hot Wheels vehicle theft report, and the GMC full-size pickup made the top 10 list. Of the nearly 1 million total vehicles reported stolen in 2021, 14% of the passenger vehicles were Chevrolet, Ford, and GMC full-size pickup models.

“Crime is a business, and business is good,” said David Glawe, president of NICB. “Used car values are at historical highs. We have seen a nearly 35% increase in used car values over the last two years due to supply chain issues and inflation. Stolen cars can be shipped overseas and resold or broken down for valuable used car parts here in the U.S.”

Passenger vehicle thefts increased 8% in 2021 compared to 2020.

The Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicle, making its first appearance in NICB’s Hot Spots top 10 list, rounds out the four U.S. models most stolen in 2021. Six vehicle makes – Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Honda CR-V, and the Toyota Corolla – round out the top 10 and account for 15% of stolen passenger vehicles in 2021.  

According to NICB’s analysis, full-size pickups and mid-sized sedans on the Hot Wheels list are also best sellers. Popularity and availability are likely contributors to their high theft numbers. The report identifies that the Ford F-Series pickup has been a top selling vehicle in the United States for decades.