Here's the top 10 vehicles most likely to be stolen in Wisconsin. Is yours on the list?
The National Insurance Crime Bureau released a new report this summer that revealed the top 10 most stolen car models nationwide and in each U.S. state last year.
According to the report, vehicle thefts increased 7% in 2022, with over 1 million vehicles stolen last year. Approximately one vehicle is stolen every 32 seconds, NICB president and CEO David Glawe said.
Unfortunately, many Milwaukeeans have become quite familiar with car theft in the past few years due to the social media "Kia Challenge," which is believed to have started on TikTok in Milwaukee.
Participants in the illegal trend, known as the "Kia Boys," have committed high rates of Kia and Hyundai thefts in cities across the country. In 2022, the Milwaukee "Kia Boys" were the subject of a film, "Kia Boys Documentary (A Story of Teenage Car Theft)" by YouTuber Tommy G.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Kia vehicles are the most represented brand among the top 10 most stolen vehicle models in Wisconsin last year.
More: Wisconsin Kia owners got the chance to make their cars harder to steal. Here's how.
What were the most stolen cars in Wisconsin in 2022?
These were the most stolen car models in Wisconsin in 2022:
# | Model | Most common year stolen | Thefts in 2022 |
1 | Hyundai Elantra | 2017 | 697 |
2 | Hyundai Sonata | 2015 | 495 |
3 | Kia Sportage | 2020 | 482 |
4 | Kia Soul | 2020 | 383 |
5 | Kia Forte | 2021 | 379 |
6 | Kia Optima | 2019 | 352 |
7 | Hyundai Tucson | 2018 | 312 |
8 | Honda Civic | 2000 | 224 |
9 | Chevrolet pickup truck (full size) | 2021 | 192 |
10 | Honda Accord | 2016, 2019 | 189 |
What were the most stolen cars in the United States in 2022?
These were the most stolen car models nationwide in 2022:
# | Model | Most common year stolen | Thefts in 2022 |
1 | Chevrolet pickup truck (full size) | 2004 | 49,903 |
2 | Ford pick-up truck (full size) | 2006 | 48,175 |
3 | Honda Civic | 2000 | 27,113 |
4 | Honda Accord | 1997 | 27,089 |
5 | Hyundai Sonata | 2013 | 21,707 |
6 | Hyundai Elantra | 2017 | 19,602 |
7 | Kia Optima | 2015 | 18,221 |
8 | Toyota Camry | 2021 | 17,094 |
9 | GMC pick-up truck (full size) | 2005 | 16,622 |
10 | Honda CRV | 2001 | 13,832 |
What happens to stolen cars?
Most stolen cars are eventually found, according to the NICB.
"More than 85 percent of passenger vehicles reported stolen in 2022 were subsequently recovered by law enforcement or other means, with 34 percent recovered within a day of the vehicle being reported stolen," the report stated.
Recovery rates for Hyundais and Kias were even higher, between 87 and 95 percent.
How can I prevent my car from being stolen?
Commonsense measures can help prevent your car from being stolen:
Remove valuables from your car or lock them out of sight.
Always lock all doors and roll the windows all the way up.
Never leave your keys or key fob in the car.
You can also install anti-theft devices that disable your car's fuel system or cut off the ignition. Visible deterrents such as steering wheel locks or brake pedal locks can provide another layer of protection, the NICB says.
Kia introduced improved anti-theft software recently, adding a longer-sounding alarm and a tweak in the ignition to make the vehicles harder to steal. Last month, the car manufacturer held a free software installation event in Milwaukee for eligible vehicle owners.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kia and Hyundai were the most stolen cars in Wisconsin in 2022
