Honda Accords and Civics, as in past years, were the most stolen vehicles in the state in 2005, according to a report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
But sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks were increasingly popular last year with auto thieves, who appear to be smuggling more stolen vehicles across the U.S. border, the same report said.
The 1996 Honda Accord was the most stolen car in Colorado, followed by the 2000 Honda Civic. Nationally, the 1991 Honda Accord was the most popular theft target, followed by the 1995 Honda Civic.
Why Hondas?
“They are easy to steal, and there is a big market for illegal parts and street racing,” said Carole Walker, a spokeswoman with the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.
Hondas are popular with theft rings that strip down older imported vehicles and sell their parts. Hondas and Acuras are also popular street-racing cars with youths.
A vulnerable ignition system makes Hondas an easier target for people looking for quick transportation or joyrides.
But thieves are increasingly going after more rugged vehicles. The 1993 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee bumped the 1989 Toyota Camry from the No. 3 spot for thefts in Colorado last year. The 1994 Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 pickup, the 2001 Dodge Ram pickup and the 1996 Ford Explorer held spots eight through 10 in the state.
Overall, auto thefts jumped 10.2 percent last year in Colorado, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
“It is the only category of major crime where there has been an increase,” CBI spokesman Lance Clem said. “The worst auto-theft problems are in the Southwestern states.”
During the late 1990s, Colorado auto thefts stayed at around 15,000 a year. But since 2000, they have risen sharply, hitting 25,315 last year, according to the CBI.
More stolen vehicles are being driven or shipped intact to Mexico, where they are resold, Clem said.
Among the areas hit with a 60 percent or greater jump in auto thefts last year were Black Hawk, Fort Collins, Greenwood Village, Durango and Idaho Springs.
Auto theft fell by 30 percent or more in Loveland, Sheridan, Glendale, Douglas County and Arapahoe County.
Insurance providers look at how frequently a given make and model is stolen to set insurance rates. The average value of a car stolen in the state last year was $6,500, Walker said.
“If your car is high on that list, it will impact the premium,” Walker said.
One easy way to prevent auto theft is to never leave a car running unattended, an all- too-common practice in the winter, Walker said.
Staff writer Aldo Svaldi can be reached at 303-954-1410 or asvaldi@denverpost.com.
