Toyota Pickups not in top-10 list of stolen vehicles

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's recent report on the top-ten most stolen vehicles, Toyota pickups are not on the list. Given the high resale value of Tundras and Tacomas (even in "normal" years), does anyone have any insights as to why our beloved trucks aren't stolen more?

https://www.nicb.org/news/news-rele...-report-americas-top-ten-most-stolen-vehicles

 

TLDR: Its easier to move parts than a whole vehicle.

Thieves usually sell stolen cars to chop shops so they can strip them down for parts. Parts for popular common vehicles are easier to get rid of and turn for profit.

 

If you can afford a tundra you probably don't live in the ghetto

 

I live in Colorado. There are A LOT of Tacomas and Tundras here. Neither of which are in the Colorado-specific top 10 list.

 

Sure but they don't break.

Its about moving parts in volume and quickly. A stolen vehicle is too easy to track so they cannibalize it.

 

But the national top 10 list includes full-sized Ford (#1), Chevy (#2), GMC (#7), and Dodge (#10) pickup trucks. They're no cheaper than Tundras and Tacomas.

 

So you think because there isn't as much of a demand for Toyota pickup parts, there's less of a reason for someone to steal one to sell for parts. I guess that seems possible.

 

Not think, I know.

Look at the list of cars in your state; note the years:
https://www.nicb.org/sites/files/2021-10/Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles By State.pdf

References: I grew up in the hood.

 

I kind of assumed that and was hoping for some ideas on what makes them harder to steal.

But it seems it may just be a matter of there being less of a reason for them to be stolen.

 

Interesting. Of the four pickups in the list, the most common years stolen are 15 year-old models. So by your statements that indicates those older cars are failing more so people need more parts to fix them, so there is more demand to steal those older models. And since older Toyota pickups fail less, they don't get stolen as often because less parts are needed.

Searching that list, Tundras are not in the top 10 in any state but the Tacoma is in the top 10 in 3 states plus Puerto Rico.

 

There is truth to this as well. Newer cars tend to be "connected" via cellular data services which means they can (probably) be tracked. Back in the 90s/00s anti theft trackers were the only similar service option available, now its practically built into every modern vehicle.

The Tacoma's listed are older with the exception of PR. I think those probably get shipped overseas vice get chopped. Could be a popular car there though.

https://youtu.be/mEsEGvekCrA

Key point at around 30secs: Parts are more valuable than the car.

You'll probably see whole cars moved near port cities. They get boxed and shipped to be sent over seas immediately.

 

The newer tech makes them easier to steal:
https://youtu.be/2tQVov0Ra8g

 

All theories may apply where you live, but here in San Diego, it’s about ease of theft, not resale of parts. When stolen vehicles get taken across the border, it’s for resale of the entire vehicle. Not a huge chop shop/ parts motive around here. Except for catalytic converters of course. For those, Toyotas are getting hit often, especially Prius and lifted trucks; I’ve heard (but don’t know) our cats are bigger than other vehicles … maybe other, newer tech vehicle have more efficient, smaller cats …? No clue. But I’ve heard the bigger cats have more of the precious metal that’s worth a lot.

Most vehicles stolen in San Diego Co. are recovered here too— just transpiration from one place to another.

 

I know we see a lot of Tundras and other Toyotas around, but that's because our mind is drawn to them since we own one. The truth is that for every Tundra, there are many more trucks on the road made by any one of the Big Three. I think there is some truth to reasons given previously, but the relatively lower number of Tundras on the road is also part of the reason.

 

Perhaps it's due to the tracking devices on some of our vehicles?
My '21 1794 and my wife's '20 4Runner Nightshade both have tracking devices as part of the "Connected Services" from Toyota.

 

Let’s first recognize the top 10 vehicles stolen in the state of Texas:

1. Ford Pick Up
2. Chevrolet Pick Up
3. Dodge Pick Up
4. Chevrolet Tahoe
5. Honda Civic 1
6. Honda Accord
7. GMC Pick Up
8. Toyota Çamry
9. Ford Taurus
10. Chevy Impala

As for the ten most stolen vehicles in California, they are not exactly the most-expensive or flashiest vehicles:

1. Honda Accord 1996
2. Honda Civic 1998
3. Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size) 2004
4. Toyota Camry 1991
5. Acura Integra 1994
6. Ford Pickup (Full Size) 2006
7. Toyota Corolla 1995
8. Nissan Sentra 1994
9. Nissan Altima 1997
10. Toyota Pickup 4×2 1988

 

Many Tundra owners reside in less densely populated areas too. Less population, less crime in general. Plus that many of us know how to

 

Supply and demand. ford =#1 selling and so forth. California, looks like the homeless need car parts too.

 

This can't be it. If it was then Ford, Chevy, GMC, and Dodge pickups wouldn't be in the top 10.

 

I never stated that was the reason. Just stated it contributed to the overall statistics. See the word "too".

 

I don’t think it’s really a fair comparison. F150 has been the top selling vehicle for years. Statistically they should be a the top of the list. And Tundras should be near the bottom at least in terms of our category. A better way to measure the risk of theft may be a ratio of thefts to vehicles on the road.

 

My thoughts exactly. Pretty much the entire top 10 stolen vehicles list in Canada every year is various F-series.

 

It’s because it doesn’t have the payload to smuggle drugs…..hey-o!

 

And the new ones don’t have a transmission cooler!

 

Lol ...I can see how it would be hard for a Chop Shop to sell Toyota Truck parts.
Only thing they would probably sell would be the catalytic converters.

 

Ford makes a million F150 a year
Chevy/GMC 800k or so 1500s
Toyota 100k Tundras

And you question why the F150 tips the list - it’s purely MORE of them.

Same reason Civic/Accord/Camry/Corolla used to top the list - make a billion of any car - a few hundred thousand are bound to get stolen.

As mentioned - cars are either “chopped”, sent to the desert or south of the border for cartel work or simply easy to boost joyrides in the case of older cars. Don’t read too much into the list - if it’s worth stealing, a PROFESSIONAL thief will take it. Most of the stuff on this list isn’t stolen “professionally”.

 

I had no idea there were so many more F-150s than Tundras. That's certainly a big factor.

 

forgot to add... F150

Year sold
2005 901,463
2006 796,039
2007 691,589
2008 515,513
2009 413,625
2010 528,349
2011 584,917
2012 692,589
2013 764,402
2014 753,851
2015 780,354
2016 820,799
2017 896,764
2018 909,330
2019 896,526
2020 787,372
2021 534,830

across the border in eh land (.ca)

Year sold
2012 106,358
2013 120,219
2014 126,277
2015 118,837
2016 145,409
2017 155,290
2018 145,694
2019 145,210
2020 128,650
2021 88,421

 

Howdy... even though I am new here, I thought I would chime in on this topic. My 2006 F350 has been stolen for the second time in three months. I am planning on selling it and getting a Tundra. I can tell you what the police have told me about pickup truck theft; it is all about ease of access! My Ford takes about 30 seconds to punch the door lock and get in the vehicle. These locks haven't changed in 20 years. While aftermarket shields are available, they are installed inside the door, and do nothing to prevent the thief from damaging the whole assembly, while they discover if they can get in.

They aren't parting out the vehicles. Thye use them for transportation of goods, or use them as battering rams to break into businesses and steal ATMs, pharmaceuticals, cigarettes, etc.

Toyota must be doing something right, to prevent easy access. Maybe someday the big three will do something different... or not.

 

Because its hard to sell a Tundra 5.7L with low mileage used. Because they all hitting 1 million miles Where the others have problems or engines that commonly swapped into just about any thing.