LoJack Most Stolen Used Cars
Do you own a Honda Accord? The bad news is it continues to top LoJack's most stolen used car list (but of course it's also the most recovered). See what other used cars made the list.
LoJack announced that law enforcement officials recovered more than $121 million in stolen vehicles equipped with the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System in 2013. LoJack’s fifth annual Vehicle Theft Recovery Report and infographic reviews auto theft trends over the past year specific to vehicles equipped with the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System.
For the fifth year in a row, the Honda Accord was ranked as the most stolen and recovered vehicle equipped with a LoJack system. California continues to top the list as the state with the most LoJack system-equipped stolen and recovered vehicles. In 2013, the oldest LoJack system-equipped stolen vehicle recovered was a 1963 Cadillac Convertible, while the most expensive LoJack system-equipped stolen vehicle recovered was a 2011 Porsche Panamera worth $103,400. The following were the top 10 most stolen and recovered LoJack system-equipped vehicle models in 2013:
- Honda Accord
- Honda Civic
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Corolla
- Chevy Silverado
- Acura Integra
- Cadillac Escalade
- Ford F350
- Nissan Altima
- Chevy Tahoe
"Today’s thieves are highly skilled professionals, and LoJack’s data reveals that stolen cars, trucks and SUVs equipped with the LoJack system were recovered 90+ percent of the time in 2013,” said Patrick Clancy, the vice president of law enforcement for LoJack Corporation, said in a press release. “The latest statistics from the FBI indicate that nearly half of vehicles stolen are not returned to the rightful owners, resulting in millions of dollars in assets lost by vehicle owners.
The LoJack system has proven to be a highly effective tool to combat vehicle theft.”
Additional findings of the 2013 LoJack Vehicle Theft Recovery Report include:
Top 10 States with the Highest Thefts and Recoveries in 2013:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- New York
- New Jersey
- Massachusetts
- Arizona
- Georgia
- Washington
Most Stolen and Recovered New 2013 Models:
- Honda Accord
- Toyota Corolla
- Ford F250
- Honda Civic
- Toyota Tacoma and Ford F150
Some Other Fun Facts
- First Recovery of the Year: 2009 Toyota Camry on January 1st at 2:57 a.m.
- Last Recovery of the Year: 2009 Acura TSX on December 31st at 10:31 p.m.
- A 70% increase in Toyota Prius recoveries in 2013 versus 2012
- Most Common Color Stolen and Recovered: Black
- Least Common Color Stolen and Recovered: Turquois
Here is some background on the report for those who like to understand the methodology. According to LoJack, "The 2013 LoJack Vehicle Theft Recovery Report is gathered from data provided by 27 states via Nlets as well as California law enforcement, and is specific to stolen cars, trucks and SUVs equipped with the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System that were recovered between January and December 2013."
Of course that's the kicker. LoJack is trying to sell its vehicle recovery system. Is LoJack worth it? Edmunds.com did a comparison in 2008 of the various vehicle recovery systems on the market that seek to recover the more than 1.2 million vehicles stolen annually.
As Edmunds explains, "Vehicle recovery systems — a.k.a. vehicle tracking systems — are telematics systems that allow their owners to get their stolen vehicles back — often sooner than had they relied solely on the police, and with less damage. Because of this, insurance companies offer owners a discount on the comprehensive portion of their policies — often 10 percent or more."
Most vehicle recovery systems use GPS, but not LoJack. "LoJack is an exception, because it uses FM radio frequency technology and works with specially equipped police cars to zone in on your stolen vehicle," says Edmunds. "It has a 90 percent recovery rate, so although it doesn't do anything besides vehicle recovery, police strongly prefer it.
"Ted Sarah, a senior law-enforcement liaison for LoJack in Southern California, spent 30 years as a vehicle theft detective in Pasadena, California. He says LoJack has been responsible for nabbing many criminals who are responsible for more serious crimes."
Edmunds also says, "LoJack has the significant advantage of being the only stolen vehicle recovery system operated by the police, but it's a one-trick pony; someone shelling out $695-$995 may want more than simply vehicle recovery." It says its pros are "Tied directly into NCIC crime computer and local police departments; 90 percent recovery rate; money-back guarantee if car isn't recovered within 24 hours." Its cons are "Cost. Only available in 26 states and Washington, D.C. (those with the highest auto theft rates); subscription won't transfer if you buy or sell a car with LoJack already installed, nor can you remove it from a leased vehicle."