Ford F-150 tops the list. What other vehicles are stolen most often in Springfield?
As morning temperatures drop, the Springfield Police Department is once again reminding residents to not start their cars and leave them running in the driveway with the keys inside.
Police Chief Paul Williams has said for years that if Springfieldians were more diligent about locking their cars, not leaving the keys in the ignition and not leaving valuables in plain sight then reports of property crime in the city would drop precipitously.
Until then, however, Springfield police must still dedicate a fair amount of resources to investigating vehicle thefts. In 2021, Springfield police reviewed more than 3,800 vehicle theft reports (with 571 of those being assigned to a detective for follow up investigation).
Last week, the department released a video highlighting three areas of the city — southeast Springfield, northwest Springfield and downtown — where vehicle theft numbers were unusually high in October.
Lt. Jason Laub, with the Springfield Police Department's property crimes section, said there is not a sophisticated car theft ring in Springfield where criminals steal vehicles and "chop" them (disassemble them and sell the parts). Rather, the vast majority of car thefts in Springfield are simply crimes of opportunity.
Popular pickup trucks targeted most often in Springfield
The News-Leader requested data from the police department for the models of vehicles stolen most frequently this year in Springfield to see if any trends emerged. Here are the top results and how many thefts of that vehicle type have been reported this year (as of Thursday):
Ford F-150 - 24
Chevrolet Silverado - 21
Dodge Ram 1500 - 14
Chevrolet Impala - 13
Honda Civic - 11
Toyota Camry - 10
Ford Focus - 9
Chevrolet Equinox - 9
GMC Sierra - 9
Ford Fusion - 9
Chevrolet Malibu - 9
Ford Ranger - 7
Ford Escape - 7
Ford Taurus - 7
Nissan Altima - 7
Volkswagen Jetta - 6
Honda Accord - 5
Ford Explorer - 5
Dodge Caravan - 5
Chevrolet Trail Blazer - 5
Honda CRV - 5
Toyota Corolla - 5
Chevrolet Cruze - 5
Laub said it is not surprising that the Ford F-150 was at the top of the list since those pickup trucks are simply popular vehicles that are common in the Springfield area.
"I think it's just a popular vehicle here in the Midwest," Laub said.
Laub said the same rationale explains the other vehicles at the top of the list like the Chevrolet Silverado, Honda Civic and Toyota Camry — if there's more of them around, then they are more likely to be the ones stolen.
More:'It's happening everywhere': How social media contributed to a spike in Kia, Hyundai thefts
Kia, Hyundai viral trend not showing up in Springfield
In other parts of the country, police departments have reported seeing increases in thefts of Kia cars newer than 2011 and Hyundai cars newer than 2015 after tips showing how to start these cars without the use of a key were posted on social media where they were viewed millions of times.
Many of those vehicles lack an electronic security device known as an engine immobilizer, making them easier to steal. Kia and Hyundai, which both now say that new vehicles they produce are equipped with engine immobilizers, are facing class action lawsuits from car owners over the alleged design fraud.
In Springfield, there have been 18 reports of Hyundai vehicles stolen this year and 12 reports of Kia vehicles being stolen. That pales in comparison to the 108 Chevrolets and 91 Fords.
"It hasn't hit here," Laub said of the viral trend.
How to guard against car theft
Laub said Springfield residents should be extra vigilant when it comes to protecting their vehicles. He said there is concern the rising cost of used cars and parts could make car theft more profitable (and thus more common) for criminals looking to make a quick buck.
Here are some tips for guarding against car theft:
Use a steering wheel locking device.
Try to park in well-lighted areas.
Keep your doors locked at all times.
Do not keep personal items or valuables in your car.
Consider aftermarket alarm systems or anti-theft devices
Report any suspicious activity, especially during evening or overnight hours.
USA Today contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Here are the vehicles stolen most often in Springfield