Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Oregon

Do you live or drive in Oregon? When shopping for insurance, it’s good to know a few facts.

Car theft is a continuing problem for many drivers across the country. It usually happens while you are on vacation or when your car is parked in an unfamiliar area. It’s hard to know how risky an area is regarding theft, but it does help to know how high of a risk your car may pose to auto theft.

If you are looking for the best auto insurance to cover you in such a situation, start comparison shopping by entering your ZIP code above!

A Pattern to Car Theft

Several areas of Oregon recently announced an increase in auto theft incidents. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s annual Hot Spots Report, Medford saw a 31 percent increase in auto theft; Grants Pass increased to 19 percent and Portland to 10 percent.

The highest area of auto theft was in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro area, which reached 7,797 auto thefts in 2015.

This is a reminder that auto theft is on the rise in the state or Oregon, especially in metropolis areas and vehicle owners should consider adding comprehensive insurance coverage to allow for the risk of theft.

Factors that Increase the Risk of Theft

Fox Business News reported that there are some factors that can influence the likelihood of theft that you will want to avoid.

• Leaving car doors unlocked
• Parking in dark, deserted areas
• Failing to use anti-theft devices
• Being careless at home
• Assuming old cars don’t get stolen
• Leaving motor running/keys in the car

It’s easy to get in such a hurry that you forget some of the key factors that encourage theft. Just being careless when at home, for example, by leaving cars running with the keys inside, forgetting to lock doors, and other things, can tempt a passing thief to take action.

Develop good safety habits and stick to them, no matter where you are to lower the risk of theft.

Location, Location, Location

Just like is true in the real estate business, the location of your home is a key factor in the risk and incidence of auto theft. If you live in one of the areas we mentioned at the beginning of this article, you are more likely to have a theft.

If you live in one of the areas we mentioned at the beginning of this article, you are more likely to have a theft.

Also, pay close attention to areas where the crime and theft rates have risen dramatically in recent months, such as Grants Pass which has experienced a 19 percent increase in thefts in recent months, as well as Corvallis, which jumped recently by a whopping 34 percent.

– Home Choice Is a Factor

Since your vehicle will be parked at your house most of the time when you are not working, you should think long and hard before deciding where to live.

If you have a choice in your location, it would be wise to choose a home in a less crime-prone area so as to lower the risk of theft. Take a look at the Safewise site to see where the best areas are plus some valuable tools to increase your security.

Oregon Auto Theft Laws

Oregon has some very specific auto theft laws. The penalties are strict, but the key will be in whether or not the police can locate the offender.

While it is true that newer cars pose more general theft risk and are more tempting to thieves, various makes and models seem to attract theft more commonly.

10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Oregon

The following is a list of the ten most commonly stolen vehicles in the state of Oregon.

It’s good to have this list as a reference when planning your location for a home as well as the make and model you will purchase.

Oregon’s 10 Most Stolen Vehicles

(Click here for an interactive chart)

#10: 1994 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee

The 1994 Jeep Cherokee is a popular vehicle that is an envied car to have. It comes in various makes and models depending on where you live and there are many different color choices.

There were 141 of these types of cars stolen in 1994 when the car was first put out on the market. It comes in at #10 of the most stolen vehicles in the state of Oregon.

#9 — 1999 Honda CR-V

The 1999 Honda CR-V is also a sought-after car by vehicle shoppers and thieves alike. It features a manual 5-speed transmission and plenty of passenger room that gets 19 mpg in the city. This makes it an enviable pick for thieves with a wandering eye.

There were 158 of these stolen in 1999, the same year they were placed on the market, which means thieves prefer them new.

#8 — 1999 Subaru Impreza

The 1999 Subaru Impreza sports a sporty look with a 4-cylinder engine that runs more like a 6-cylinder. It is an envied car because of its ability to travel through rough terrain including snow and ice.

There were 171 of this model stolen in Oregon in 1999, the same year as the car manufacturer date.

#7 — 1994 Acura Integra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KubEAgM1jYw

The 1994 Acura Integra is a popular car among many, including car thieves. It comes in a variety of sporty colors including blue and red and is an attractive mid-sized car. The overall rating on KBB is 9.2 out of 10, which makes it an envied car among auto thieves as well.

In 1994, there were 209 such vehicles stolen from their owners in Oregon alone.

#6 — 1999 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)

The 1999 Chevrolet Pickup is a truck that many would love to own. With its powerful V8 engine and plenty of hauling space and cab room, auto theft is common in Oregon with this truck.

In 1999, there were 217 of these stolen from Oregon residents.

#5 — 1990 Toyota Camry

The 1990 Toyota Camry was a popular car when it was first released. It’s a bit outdated now, but it was a favorite of thieves in 1990.

Around 221 of them were stolen from Oregon residents in 1990 alone.

#4 — 2004 Ford Pickup (Full Size)

The 2004 Ford Pickup is a hot item for car thieves.

It is a beautiful F150 with a V8 4.6L engine that many would love to own without having to purchase it. Its retail value is around $15,000 new, and in the year 2004, 295 of these were stolen from Oregon owners.

#3 — 1998 Subaru Legacy

The 1998 Subaru Legacy was also a popular vehicle when it was released. Statistics show that 377 were lifted from their vehicle owner’s parking lots or other locations in 1998.

#2 — 1998 Honda Civic

The 1998 Honda Civic had 1,276 thefts in the year 1998, the date of manufacture. Decide for yourself why it was so popular with care thieves. But it seemed to attract the attention of many Oregon auto thieves that year.

#1 — 1994 Honda Accord

The 1994 Honda Accord was another popular car with vehicle owners and thieves alike.

Perhaps what they liked about it is the excellent gas mileage (20mpg in the city), but it’s small enough to make a great getaway car.

Perhaps 1994 Honda Accord owners left their cars in high-risk places. Whatever the reasons, 1,491 of these were stolen from Oregon car owners in 1994. When we look back at this data on the stolen vehicles, some patterns start to emerge.

For one thing, all of these cars were stolen in the same year that they were put on the market. This means that thieves do tend to want to the car the year they are put out.

However, this is not to say that all thefts are for new cars. Older models are also stolen. But this data only included thefts of new cars in the state of Oregon.

Another thing it brings to mind is the fact that you need comprehensive coverage with your car insurance. Comprehensive is the only type of coverage that will help you if your car is stolen.

Steps You Can Take to Avoid Car Theft

There are some steps you can take to avoid your vehicle being stolen.

• Avoid leaving expensive electronics in your car
• Don’t leave your trunk open
• Use anti-theft devices
• Don’t assume an older car isn’t a target
• Never leave your motor running

If the worst case scenario does happen and your car is stolen, contact your local police immediately. The sooner you get the authorities involved, the better chance you have of recovering your vehicle.

If the theft occurred in the Portland area, contact the Portland Police Department or fill out the online form.

Finding the Right Coverage in Case of Theft

As you can see, there is a good chance of risk for car theft if you live in Oregon.

While certain cities in Oregon are more prone to theft than others and some cars are more prone to theft than others, having comprehensive car insurance coverage is the only way to protect yourself against this risk.

Shop and compare policies online and ask your representative to advise you on the insurance options you have, especially if your vehicle falls into a high-risk category.

Start comparison shopping today by entering your ZIP code below!