Kia and Hyundai are the most frequently stolen vehicles, the National Insurance Crime Bureau revealed after releasing its 2023 list. But why are thieves usually targeting these car brands?

NICB Says Kia, Hyundai Among Most Stolen Cars

NICB said that in 2023 alone, they received 48,445 theft reports involving the Hyundai Elantra. In addition to this model, the Hyundai Sonata was reported stolen 42,813 times.

Meanwhile, the agency received more than 30,000 theft reports for the Kia Optima. NICB said various Kia models were in the top 10 most stolen vehicles in 2023. The Kia Sportage, Kia Forte, and Kia Soul are among these models.

NICB explained that thieves mostly targeted Kia and Hyundai because of the rising TikTok trends that showed how easy it is to steal older car models of these brands, as reported by Fox Business.

Read Also: Stellantis CEO Threatens to Pull Out Cars From UK Over Law That Limits Petrol Vehicles

Other Vehicles Mostly Stolen in 2023

Aside from Kia and Hyundai, Chevrolet, Honda, and Ford are among the most stolen vehicles on NICB. Specifically, Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Honda Civic, and Honda Accord were targeted by thieves in 2023.

Luckily, most of these stolen vehicles were recovered the same day after thefts were reported. Others were recovered from criminals after two days.

"These rankings highlight the persistent threat of vehicle theft across the country," said NICB CEO David J. Glawe via CarBuzz.

He promised they would coordinate with law enforcement agencies to deploy advanced anti-car theft technologies and strategies. However, he explained that car owners still need to be vigilant and proactive about protecting their vehicles.

Related Article: Hyundai, Kia Unit Allegedly Repossessed Cars From Military Personnel Illegally; Financial Arm to Settle Charges