These luxury cars have the highest theft rates

While some of the best-selling cars in the U.S. also top the most frequently stolen list each year because of their sheer numbers, another look at the statistics reveals which cars by percentage sold are the most likely to by targeted by thieves.

According to data recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the car most frequently stolen, based on the number of thefts per 1,000 vehicles sold during 2009, was the $92,000 Audi S8 sport/luxury sedan, with 8.81 thefts per 1,000 vehicles produced. That comes out to just two out of the 227 S8s that were sold in the U.S., so it’s hardly a widespread epidemic.

Still, NHTSA’s statistics prove the point that the flashiest cars on the road can also be the most popular — for the wrong reasons.

Forbes.com slideshow: Cars with the highest theft rates

The Ford Shelby Mustang GT had the next highest theft rate for 2009, with 8.61 vehicles per 1,000 stolen. Also in the top five were the sportiest variant of BMW’s midsize sedan, the M5 (7.58/1,000), retro-flavored Dodge Charger full-size sedan (6.47/1,000) and the no longer produced Honda S2000 roadster (5.60/1,000).

The remainder of the top 10 list of cars with the highest theft rates for 2009 included the midsize Mitsubishi Galant sedan (5.11/1,000), the full-size Chrysler 300 sedan (4.57/1,000), the Infiniti M luxury sedan (4.32/1,000) the Cadillac STS luxury sedan (4.28/1,000) and the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class luxury sport coupe (3.91/1,000).

By brand, the most frequently stolen cars per 1,000 sold, were Chrysler products, with the Chrysler Sebring, Sebring Convertible and PT Cruiser, and the Dodge Avenger and Dodge Caliber making the top 20 in addition to the aforementioned 300 and Charger.

General Motors came in second, with four vehicles among top 20, with the Pontiac G5 and G6 and Chevrolet Impala joining the STS.

While the Toyota Camry was the most purloined model overall in terms of sheer numbers, at 781 stolen in 2009, it ranked 50th as a percentage of sales at just 1.74 per 1,000 cars. The least-stolen model per capita in 2009 was the since-discontinued Mercury Mariner SUV, with a theft rate of 0.08 per 1,000 units, or a mere two vehicles out of 25,682 sold that year.

Fortunately, NHTSA reports that the number of auto thefts reported each year is on the decline. “The agency believes that the theft rate reduction could be the result of several factors including the increased use of standard antitheft devices, vehicle parts marking, increased and improved prosecution efforts by law enforcement organizations and increased public awareness,” according to a NHTSA statement.

So what can you do to ensure that thieves won’t target your vehicular pride and joy? Start by correcting bad habits, such as leaving the keys in the ignition when the vehicle is unattended. Keep the windows and sunroof closed, and don’t hide a spare key where an astute crook might find it.

If you have a garage, park inside it, not merely out on the driveway, and make sure both entry doors are closed and locked at all times. If you park on the street, choose a spot close to other vehicles, turn your wheels toward the curb and engage the emergency brake to make it more difficult to be towed. Away from home, park in a well-lit or well-traveled area after dark, and avoid using long-term parking lots–take a taxi to the airport instead.

Experts also advise having your car or truck’s vehicle identification number (often called a “VIN,” it’s found on the driver’s side of the dashboard at the bottom of the windshield, as well as on the model’s title) etched on the windshield and major components to make them more difficult for chop shops to sell as replacement parts.

Beyond the common-sense basics, use an antitheft device, which will often also warrant a discount on your car insurance. A steering-wheel lock like the popular “Club” is simple, inexpensive and can be as effective as costlier alarm systems. A thief wants to get a vehicle as quickly as possible, and anything that might slow him or her down can be enough of a deterrent to instead choose another model on the block. Having a simple ignition “kill switch” installed in a hidden location makes it more difficult for a crook to start a car or truck and drive it away.

Advanced vehicle recovery devices like LoJack and General Motors’ OnStar system use technology similar to that employed in satellite navigation systems to help police departments locate cars and trucks if they are stolen. They can be pricey and require a monthly subscription, but if you own an expensive high-profile car, the cost is usually warranted.

© 2011 Forbes.com

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The worst cities in America for car theft

For its sunny charm, a hard place to live can California.

According to the national crime his average 187 crimes per square mile are far above the national median 49,6, and his property crime almost 36 crimes per every 1,000 people sound the 34 Californians beats the odds have a 1 in 178-chance a victim of a violent crime.

Driver results not much better. The rate is the national average of vehicle theft in California almost twice, according to Lage Inc., a Massachusetts-based company, displacement offers software and real estate investment advice. And according to a new report from the national insurance Crime Bureau, it is getting worse.

Eight of the top 10 cities for auto theft nationwide are in the Golden State, up to six cities in the past year. Sacramento, Stockton and Bakersfield among the worst.

This list of worst cities for auto theft have we compiled data for 2010 by NICB, a des Plaines, Illinois-based non-profit organization dedicated to vehicle theft and insurance to prevent fraud. The NICB used U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, and postal code with theft records for metropolitan statistical areas harmonisation. The result is calculated on a scale of robberies per 100,000 people.

All of the cities on our list of Fresno (No. 1 with a theft of 812.40 per 100,000), Yakima (No. 10 with a theft of 520.49), had much more frequent instances of theft than cities at the bottom. Elmira, New York, n.y., for example, has a car-theft rate of only 37.15 per 100,000 - which translated it in only 33 cars stolen last year. For the second year in a row, the auto theft in the nation, with only 29.87 thefts per 100,000 people was State College, PA, the lowest rate.

An interesting note: the year's list have no cities East of the Rocky Mountains. Laredo, Texas, which surpassed, it last year ranks No. 11; Albuquerque, nm, and also from 2010 to 2011 in Las Vegas. Washington State saw shifts as well as: Spokane moved 14 spots in no. 4 this year during the southern city of Yakima back 4 spots to no. 10 deleted.

Why the big culprit is? There is no one reason, says Frank Scafidi, a spokesman for the NICB, but a large population with a high rate of car ownership is a contributing factor.

Centrally located cities such as Stockton, California, are its border nodes for traffickers moving drugs, money and weapons. The 2010 FBI crime reportedly had some of the highest rates of Stockton, Sacramento, and Oakland violent crime in the country last year. (Act of violence does not include car theft.) Vegas and Stockton have been identified by the Ministry of Justice as transit points for Mexican drug cartels.

Population density is another important factor theft rates, says Scafidi. It is for obvious reasons - the poet population, the lower rate.

"What they lose in Fresno and Modesto, which they lose the Lakers game at half-time at one," says Scafidi. "But never L.A. makes the top 10, because it 18 million people down there."

Terri Miller, Director of the programme says Michigan-based help to eliminate auto theft California's warm weather attracts people and convertible tops too careless to leave below Windows to open, to be rolled - both present tempting invitations for opportunistic thieves.

While it is often assumed that crime is increasing as the economy worsens, which not necessarily the case with car theft to.

"Loss of employment not I believe most people turn in on night criminals," says Scafidi. "Can we show that this is a your own financial situation has a bearing on some crime?" Absolute. "But a sweeping statement like that is not supported by the evidence."

All in all 71 percent reported that the 366 MSAs measured (and six on our list) less car theft in 2010 than in the year 2009. Improved law enforcement practices and stricter legislation have a lot to do. But the cars themselves are another important reason for the decline.

"Cars only harder get to steal," says Miller. This is chip car key with immobilizer, systems and technologies, including Ford Sync and GM OnStar service positioning - they work advanced theft deterrent to track well and stolen vehicles quickly restore.

But the other side of this improvement is an increased rate of a pettier crime: "We see increase in theft of components," says Miller.

Car tires and rims have strong resale values on the black market and catalysts are hot items by high prices for precious metals, which they contain. Airbags can $200 on the black market, according to the insurance information Institute fetch operation; Airbag theft costs more than $50 million per year for first and vehicle owners.

All in all auto theft costs consumers and insurance companies over $8 billion annually, according to FBI statistics. And the vehicles stolen each year more than 1 million less than 60 percent are recovered from them.

It is enough to carefully consider, purchase, that new drive.

© 2011 Forbes.com

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