New York Saw Drop in Car Thefts Last Year

The 2000 Honda Civic topped the list of most-stolen cars in New York last year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

Rounding out the top three were the 1994 Honda Accord — which is the most-stolen car nationwide — and the 1996 Dodge Caravan.

Overall, auto thefts in the state fell to 21,870 last year, down from 25,114 in 2008 – a drop of 13 percent.

“Motor vehicle theft continues to decline in New York State,” Ellen Melchionni, president of the New York Insurance Association (NYIA) said. “But drivers still need to take prudent steps to prevent their vehicle from being stolen.”

Among the NYIA recommendations: locking and securing vehicles, visible or audible warning devices, Immobilizing devices such as a kill switch or smart key, and tracking devices.

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Source: New York Insurance Association