25 most stolen newer vehicles

Number stolen in 2011: 427
Japanese midsize sedans make up three of the 10 best-selling vehicles in the country, so the market for their parts is large. While the Maxima is a better-equipped, more upscale car, the Altima is more popular among thieves.

2009 Nissan Altima

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Number stolen in 2011: 401
The Honda Accord is popular among thieves to "chop," or disassemble, and sell for parts. Once a car is stolen, it is likely to be chopped within a few days. Professional car rings can chop a car in as little as six hours.

2009 Honda Accord

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Number stolen in 2011: 228
Less expensive compact cars such as the Honda Civic are less likely to be taken than their midsize counterparts. A few versions of the Civic, however, are more tempting than others. Thieves take the hybrid for the battery and the top-line EX model for the extra equipment.

2009 Honda Civic

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Number stolen in 2011: 326
Late-model American cars aren't as popular among thieves as Japanese models, but the Charger's muscular appearance makes it attractive to car-theft rings, especially the sinister-looking SRT8 model with its 6.4-liter 470-horsepower Hemi V8 engine.

2009 Dodge Charger

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Number stolen in 2011: 320
Japanese sport bikes are likely to be owned by young hotshots who drag-race and perform tricks, both of which can result in problems. For instance, wheelies can cause engines to blow because they become oil-starved at extreme angles. Result: These bike parts are in high demand.

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Number stolen in 2011: 291
Like the Yamaha, this Honda sport bike is often stolen to be disassembled and sold for parts. This problem tends to be worse in the sunshine states, especially California. Higher demand equals more stolen bikes.

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Number stolen in 2011: 273
The more attractive and successful the car, the more likely it will be stolen. That makes the Cobalt a surprise entry on this list. Still, it sold well, so it's often stolen, stripped down and sold for parts. The Cobalt has been replaced by the more attractive and higher-quality Cruze, which will likely be stolen more often.

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt

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Number stolen in 2011: 818
Airbags are among the most frequently stolen components. According to the Insurance Information Institute, more than 75,000 are taken each year, accounting for more than $50 million in losses for owners and insurers. Every 2010 Camry has seven of them.

2010 Toyota Camry

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Number stolen in 2011: 747
Less expensive cars such as the Toyota Corolla are less likely to come with remote keyless entry, and that makes them easier to steal. Their keys don't have computer chips, so they can be stolen without going to a dealer to get a factory-sourced key.

2010 Toyota Corolla

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Number stolen in 2011: 744
Aside from its appealing looks and available V8 power, the 2010 Dodge Charger was offered with two of the features thieves look for most: xenon headlights and a navigation system.

2010 Dodge Charger

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Number stolen in 2011: 604
Thieves sometimes steal vehicles such as the Impala or Ford Crown Victoria so they can impersonate police officers. The Impala SS is also attractive for its 5.3-liter V8 engine, which is used in several trucks and SUVs.

2010 Chevrolet Impala

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Number stolen in 2011: 511
Ford is the most stolen automotive brand in the United States, but its late-model cars aren't taken as often as the best-selling Japanese products. The Fusion is attractive to thieves for its available hybrid battery and high-tech Sync infotainment system.

2010 Ford Fusion

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Number stolen in 2011: 488
General Motors vehicles such as the Malibu are often equipped with OnStar, which can locate a stolen car through a satellite signal. Thieves usually know how to disable it, so it is important to contact OnStar quickly so the car can be tracked down.

2010 Chevrolet Malibu

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Number stolen in 2011: 419
Disreputable repair shops will put out a call for parts for a specific vehicle, and car-theft rings will target a similar vehicle to provide those parts. Many of the Nissan Altimas stolen in 2011 were likely taken for just that reason.

2010 Nissan Altima

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Number stolen in 2011: 370
The Ford F-150 is America's best-selling vehicle, so there is plenty of need for repair parts. Of course, thieves may also take vehicles to resell them, but they will need hard-to-duplicate keys and the risk of arrest is much greater.

2010 Ford F-150

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Number stolen in 2011: 361
The 2010 Focus wasn't a very attractive car, but strong sales numbers and the lure of the available Sync system made it a target.

2010 Ford Focus

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Number stolen in 2011: 949
The 2011 Toyota Camry is the most stolen late-model car. Newer cars with the latest technology are more attractive to thieves because that equipment is more valuable. If your car is taken, your best chance of getting it back is via tracking systems such as OnStar or LoJack.

2011 Toyota Camry

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Number stolen in 2011: 745
Though it features an aging design, the 2011 Impala was a popular choice to be stolen last year. Thieves often target cars for their catalytic converter, which goes for $500 or more as a replacement part and contains precious metals that can be sold for scrap.

2011 Chevrolet Impala

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Number stolen in 2011: 554
One way thieves acquire keys is through VIN cloning. They copy the Vehicle Identification Number from a car of the same model and color, fabricate a new VIN plate and apply it to the stolen vehicle, create fake paperwork and use the documentation to have new keys made. Many Malibus were taken last year in this manner.

2011 Chevrolet Malibu

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Number stolen in 2011: 485
The F-Series pickup was the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. last year, with 584,917 sold. Base models are susceptible because they don't have chipped keys, and higher-line models are desirable for their creature comforts and high-tech features.

2011 Ford F-150

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Number stolen in 2011: 440
The Sonata's 2010 redesign made it a very attractive car, improving the brand's reputation. It caught on with customers, selling 225,961 in 2011, and therefore also caught on with thieves.

2011 Hyundai Sonata

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Number stolen in 2011: 431
If thieves can't acquire a key for a late-model car like the Altima, they might steal it using a tow truck, which usually doesn't raise an alarm with onlookers. The car is then likely to be chopped unless a key can be acquired with false paperwork or through a corrupt contact at a dealer.

2011 Nissan Altima

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Number stolen in 2011: 394
If your identity is stolen, the thief might use your information to "buy" a car, effectively stealing it from the dealership. The car is then sold at a bargain price, netting the thief a good payday. Anyone who buys that car is likely to have it repossessed and lose their money.

2011 Ford Fusion

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Number stolen in 2011: 312
Trucks are popular choices to be stolen, sent overseas and sold where nobody will question their origins. This is a risky and time-consuming proposition for thieves, who will have to counterfeit the paperwork to send the vehicle through a port.

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

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Number stolen in 2011: 296
To keep your car safe, make sure it has an alarm, park it in a well-lit area and buy a security device such as The Club, which will make it harder to steal than the cars around it. Still, thieves may still take it if they have an order for a car like yours.

2011 Toyota Corolla

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Kirk Bell has served as the associate publisher for Consumer Guide Automotive and editor of Scale Auto Enthusiast magazine. A Midwest native, Bell brings 18 years of automotive journalism experience to MSN, and currently contributes to JDPower.com and Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.

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