National Vehicle Theft Rate Continues to Drop, According to N.H.T.S.A. Data

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released final data on thefts of passenger vehicles from the 2009 model year, the most recent data available.

The final theft rate for vehicles stolen in calendar year 2009 represented a 21.3 percent decrease from that of 2008, according to the report published in the Federal Register. The rate was calculated as shares per thousand vehicles produced. In 2009, for example, there were 1.33 thefts of 2009 model vehicles per thousand vehicles produced, while in 2008, there were 1.69 thefts of 2008 model vehicles per thousand produced, according to The New York Times.

While the Audi S8 experienced the highest theft rate, the Toyota Camry was the most stolen vehicle by volume. The high-horsepower Audi had a theft rate of 8.81 per thousand vehicles produced, based on two thefts out of the 227 S8s that were made for 2009.

The Camry had a theft rate of 1.74 per thousand vehicles, but its sheer numbers — it was the best selling car in the country that year — meant that only 781 of the 447,882 units produced were stolen. That ratio put the Camry in 50th place out of the 239 models tracked.

N.H.T.S.A.’s report only ranked models that had a gross vehicle weight of 6,000 pounds or less. That is why models like the Cadillac Escalade, frequently cited among the most stolen vehicles in the United States, did not make the list.

The five vehicles with the highest rate of theft included the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 in second place, with a theft rate of 8.6 (five were stolen). Third was the BMW M5, with a theft rate of 7.57 (two were stolen). Fourth was the Dodge Charger with a rate of 6.46 (432 out of the 66,856 made were stolen). In fifth was the Honda S2000, with a rate of 5.60 (two were stolen).

Only 11 passenger-car models experienced a theft rate higher than 3.5826.

The report noted that the decrease in the theft rate was consistent with a generally decreasing trend over the last 16 years. The agency attributed the reduction to the increased use of standard antitheft devices, vehicle parts marking, increased public-awareness measures and increased and improved prosecution efforts by law enforcement.

Meanwhile, 45 vehicles had a theft rate of zero. These were dominated by exotics like the Aston Martin DB9, Lamborghini Murciélago and the Maybach 57 and 62 sedans. As to whether these were kept behind gates with guard dogs standing sentinel at each fender, the report did not say.