Older U.S. cars stolen

After a long-running infatuation with Japanese makes, car thieves in Charleston are going American.

Hondas from the 1990s remain among the choosiest wheels to steal. But Dodges, Plymouths, Chryslers and Jeeps of approximately the same vintage have been disappearing more often.

"There has been an increase in these vehicles being stolen during the last two months," said Charleston police Sgt. David Fair, an auto-theft investigator. "People think, 'Who would want to steal that? It's not worth anything. Who'd want to steal an old rag?' "

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) says that many vehicles are stolen throughout the U.S. for parts, or for illegal export to other countries.

Fair says the trend in Charleston has more to do with cheap transportation. Car thieves know about design flaws that make many 10- to 13-year-old cars easy to steal. Somebody with a criminal record can steal a ride and abandon it a few days later.

"We get over 80 percent of them recovered, usually in a time span of about five days," he said.

Dave Ecklund, a Charleston-based NICB special agent, said any car is susceptible to theft, some more than others. The most commonly stolen cars are five to 10 years old.

"There's a lot of opportunistic theft, whether it's to be used as cheap transportation or in another crime," he said.

Generally, Charleston averages about one stolen car a day, Fair said. As of Friday morning, 24 had been stolen in April alone. Recently thefts have included the Chrysler LeBaron, Chrysler Town and Country minivan, Plymouth Voyager minivan, Dodge Ram pickup and Jeep Cherokee.

The incidents haven't been concentrated in any particular area, he said. Some were at apartment complexes, others at shopping malls.

The public has helped police by reporting abandoned vehicles. Telltale signs of theft include broken windows or ignitions. Often, thieves drape a T-shirt or cloth over the steering column to hide signs of tampering.

The best way to prevent theft is using a steering-wheel locking device, Fair said. Models from 2000 and afterward generally come with more sophisticated anti-theft devices, but those, too, are fallible.

"Whatever's made by man can be undone by man," Fair said.

Nationally, in 2006*

The National Insurance Crime Bureau said the most stolen vehicles in the nation in 2006 were:

1. 1995 Honda Civic

2. 1991 Honda Accord

3. 1989 Toyota Camry

4. 1997 Ford F-150 Series

5. 2005 Dodge Ram Pickup

6. 1994 Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup

7. 1994 Nissan Sentra

8. 1994 Dodge Caravan

9. 1994 Saturn SL

10. 1990 Acura Integra

Statewide, in 2006

The most stolen vehicles in South Carolina in 2006 were:

1. 1995 Honda Accord

2. 1999 Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup

3. 1996 Ford Explorer

4. 1997 Ford F-150 Series

5. 2000 Honda Civic

6. 1999 Ford Taurus

7. 1987 Chevrolet Caprice

8. 1993 Toyota Camry

9. 1996 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee

10. 1997 Ford Ranger

*A new NICB report with a ranking of stolen vehicles from 2007 is expected in the fall.

Tips for protecting your vehicle

To help protect your vehicle from being stolen, the South Carolina Insurance News Service recommends a layered approach:

Common sense: Use anti-theft devices that are standard on all vehicles: locks. Lock your car and take your keys. Park in well-lit areas and hide valuable items.

Warning device: Use visible or audible warning devices to ensure that your car remains where you left it.

Immobilizing device: Use 'kill' switches, fuel cutoffs, and smart keys. Generally speaking, if your car won't start, it won't get stolen.

Tracking device: If your vehicle is stolen, these systems help law enforcement track and recover it and return it to you. Some systems will even inform you if your vehicle has been moved without your knowledge.

Reach Noah Haglund at nhaglund@postandcourier.com or 937-5550.