Still, data shows that one car, truck or SUV is stolen every 48 seconds in the U.SgettyThe number of cars reported stolen last year dropped to levels not seen in decades, according to data compiled by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). The organization says they were 23% fewer car crimes reported in 2025, which amounts to 659,880 units targeted by thieves. That's on top of a 17% plunge in 2024, and would seem to negate the prior pandemic-fueled surge in vehicle thefts that peaked at 1,020,729 in 2023.Still, one car, truck or SUV is illegally acquired every 48 seconds in the U.S., with the NICB reporting an even greater frequency in crowded urban areas.Motorists in Washington State enjoyed the largest drop in vehicle thefts by state at 39% last year, followed by Colorado and Puerto Rico at -35% and -34%, respectively.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe state that suffered from the highest frequency of vehicle thefts last year, according to the NICB, is California, with a whopping 136,998 units reported stolen. Texas comes in second at a much-lower – though still too high – 75,269 vehicles taken in 2025. Illinois places third on the most-wanted list, though at 28,327 it suffered nearly one-fifth of California's 2005 losses.As has been the case in recent years, the NICB says the most-frequently taken vehicles tend to be older versions of popular, though hardly flashy vehicles, led by the Hyundai Elantra at 21,732 units. Rounding out the top five in this regard is the Honda Accord (17,797), Hyundai Sonata (17,687), Chevrolet Silverado (16,764 ), Honda Civic (12,725) and the Kia Optima (11,521).Cars like these are most often driven or towed away to a so-called "chop shop" where they're dismantled for their individual parts. The main shell is then salvaged, with the most valuable parts sold by unscrupulous vendors to repair shops and consumers, often via the Internet.One of the hottest targets among car thieves continues to be a critical component that can be quickly removed without much notice within a few minutes, even on a busy street in broad daylight. That would be the catalytic converter, which is not only a key component in a vehicle's emissions system, it's one for which a recycler can pay up to $1,400, depending on the model.AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to the title search company Carfax, more than 137,000 catalytic converters were reported stolen in 2025.They're taken not for their second-hand values, but to harvest small, yet valuable amounts of precious metals that are used to make a catalytic converter work. These include platinum, which is currently valued at over $1,700 per ounce, palladium at around $1,300 per ounce, and rhodium, which can command a whopping $8,600 per ounce. Meanwhile, CarMD.com estimates it will cost a car owner an average $1,550 to have a stolen converter replaced.On the plus side, an auto insurance policy's comprehensive coverage will reimburse an owner for the expense, minus any deductible. Unfortunately many policyholders don't carry this coverage or maintain a too-high deductible to save money if it's an older car.It's easy to tell when a vehicle's catalytic converter has been swiped. The most obvious clues will be an illuminated "check engine" light on the instrument panel and a much louder than normal exhaust note, as the flow from the engine to the vehicle's mufflers is essentially broken. A driver should also notice darker or odd-smelling exhaust fumes, sluggish and/or sputtering acceleration, and perhaps even remnants left on the pavement during the removal process.AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to Carfax, among the models that suffer the most frequent catalytic converter thefts are several pickup trucks and SUVs having higher-than-average ground clearances that make it easier for a crook to crawl beneath the engine and commit virtually undetectable larceny.Here's the list of the top 10 models in the U.S. Carfax says are the most popular among catalytic converter thieves:Ford F-150 pickupHyundai Tucson SUVFord Explorer SUVRam 2500 HD pickupChevrolet Silverado pickupChevrolet Traverse SUVRam 3500 HD pickupFord EcoSport SUVFord Expedition SUVChevrolet Trax SUVTo save the inconvenience and expense involved in catalytic converter theft, security experts recommend owners take precautions to ensure their rides aren't easy marks. This include parking in well-lit areas when in public and within a locked garage at home, and having a special catalytic converter anti-theft device installed. At the least, experts suggest having the car's vehicle identification number (VIN) etched on the device to help law enforcement, salvage yards, and pawn shops identify a stolen unit.This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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