Ohio thieves target older vehicles

Several most-stolen cars, trucks more than decade old, data show.

Trucks and cars manufactured more than a decade ago are some of the top vehicles stolen in Ohio, new data show.

Chevy and Ford pickups made in 2002 and 2004 top the list of most attractive vehicles to thieves in Ohio. Several Honda and Toyota models also made the list.

The “Hot Wheels” report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau released Thursday examines theft data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center, ranking the cars and trucks reported stolen most often in 2017.

Dayton resident Tyra McIntosh drives a Toyota Corolla and said the list did not surprise her.

“It happens pretty regular,” she said of car thefts.

Her approach is the right one.

“I always take my keys with me,” McIntosh said. “But I know some people who don’t. It’s not safe.”

Late ’90s model Honda Accords and Civics were listed as the most stolen vehicles nationally in any year. Nationally, the model most stolen last year was the Civic, at 45,062 thefts, with 6,707 of the Civics being targeting falling in the 1998 model year.

For just the 2017 model year, the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry were the top two stolen models nationally.

The best steps any vehicle owner can take are the obvious ones: Don’t leave your vehicle running, and don’t leave your keys in the vehicle with the doors unlocked.

“Just take the extra steps,” said Leronda Jackson, owner and president of Dayton’s LFL Insurance Agency LLC. “I see people leave their keys in the car; they leave their car running if it’s a snowy day.”

Put your valuables out of sight in the trunk, Jackson advises. If you start your car early on winter mornings to warm the vehicle, stay with it.

“People walk by,” she said. “People walk through the parking lot, and they’ll (check) all the doors.”

Technology can help defeat thieves, but that only goes so far, the national report said.

“Even with the slight increases in the last few years, the national vehicle theft problem today is at levels not seen since 1967,” the report stated. “Enhancements in vehicle security and manufacturing are having a positive impact, but complacency can undermine their success. Thousands of vehicles continue to be stolen each year because owners leave their keys or fobs in the vehicles, and that invites theft.”

The report recommends people use audible warning or immobilizing devices, including “smart keys.” And tracking devices emit a signal to the police or to a monitoring station when a vehicle is stolen.

“Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles,” the Hot Wheels report said. “Some systems employ ‘telematics,’ which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.”