Over 21,700 2011-2013 model-year sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and crossovers (CUVs) were stolen in the U.S. between Jan.1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2013.

In an analysis, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and National Crime Information Center (NCIC), in a ForeCAST report, break down the thefts by state; region; class, model and make; and the number and percentage of unrecovered vehicles.

The analysis points out that SUVs are typically built on a pickup truck platform, while CUVs are built on a car platform.

In the last report of this kind, the groups note, 19,961 SUV/CUV thefts occurred, showing the growing popularity of these vehicles among consumers, and therefore thieves, since the previous report's January 2008 to June 2012 time period.

Interestingly, SUV thefts are on the decline—down 25% compared to the previous report—while CUV thefts are on the rise, up by 31%.

See the NICB/NCIC breakdown on the following pages.

By Class, Make and Model

By class (right) CUVs appear to be more desirable to thieves than SUVs. And compact CUVs most of all. Compact CUVs topped the list of thefts by class, more than doubling second-place large CUVs.

All told, CUVs accounted for 15,785 thefts, or 73% of the total, compared to 5,926 SUVs. Pick-ups, classified as SUVs, accounted for just 53 thefts.

The high desirability for CUVs versus SUVs is even more striking when looking at makes and models (below). Of the top-10 stolen makes and models, nine are CUVs. The only SUV to appear on the list is the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is the fourth most stolen model.

Three Ford CUVs top the list: the Escape is first, followed by the Edge and the Explorer. Compact CUVs account for five of the top ten models.

An NICB spokesperson gave a simple answer when asked why CUVs appear so much more in demand among thieves: “There are more CUV thefts than SUV thefts simply because there are more CUV's sold. Thieves tend to want the same things that the general population wants. Plus, if there are more CUV's on the road, there will be more demand for CUV parts.”

By States and Core-based Statistical Areas

California tops the list of states (above) for most stolen SUVs and CUVs by a wide margin—3,531 thefts compared to 1,897 thefts in second-place Florida. The NICB says 16% of all SUV/CUV thefts occurred in California, and 68% of thefts were in the top-10 states.

New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania appear fifth, sixth and ninth respectively, but when ranked by CBSA (below, click to enlarge), the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA region places first with 2,530 thefts. Three California regions make top-10 showings on the CBSA list at third, seventh and ninth.

(Click to enlarge.)

Unrecovered Thefts

As of March 31, 13%, or 2,834 stolen SUVs/CUVs were unrecovered. Compact CUVs accounted for the most unrecovered vehicles, which is not surprising given how many were stolen. But looked at as a percentage, only 8% of stolen compact CUVs go unrecovered—second-fewest among the nine classes of SUVs/CUVs (above).

Premium SUVs, by comparison, saw the greatest percentage of unrecovered thefts at 33%.

New Jersey and New York were the top two states for unrecovered thefts, and so it stands to reason that the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA CBSA (below) leads all other regions for unrecovered thefts.

(Click to enlarge.)

By make and model (below, click to enlarge), the Mercedes-Benz GL class accounted for the greatest percentage of unrecovered thefts at 37%, while the Jeep Wrangler accounted for the greatest total number of unrecovered thefts.

The Ford Escape, the most desired make and model among thieves, is recovered in all but 5% of thefts.

(Click to enlarge.)

On the next page: Chart breakdowns of the total thefts by all states.

Special Reports /

SUV and Crossover Thefts By the Numbers: Top Makes, Models and States

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