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Everyone knows that a popular TikTok challenge led to an explosion in the number of Hyundai and Kia vehicles stolen with minimal effort. However, even with models like the Hyundai Elantra at the top of the list, the Chevrolet Silverado manages to be the most-stolen thing on four wheels in nine states, including California and Texas.  

From Texas to California and Maine, thieves target the Chevrolet Silverado more than any other truck– or the oft-stolen Kia

First, the good news. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports that car thefts are down. And down by quite a margin. From 2023 to 2024, nationwide car theft crimes dropped 17% from 1,020,729 to 850,708. But that doesn’t mean you can leave your car unlocked just yet. Especially if you drive a Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

According to NICB data on auto-theft insurance claims, thieves stole around 6,453 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup trucks in Texas in 2024. Based on that data, Texas Silverados were the most stolen vehicle model by location in the country. The Texas pickup truck population wasn’t far ahead of the No. 2 state. It’s California, with 6,248 stolen Chevrolet Silverados. That said, the data doesn’t specify any trim levels. 

The Ford F-150, a close rival of the Silverado, is the No. 3 most-stolen model in six states, three shy of the Silverado 1500. It’s an interesting figure, given the fact that the Ford F-150 was the best-selling vehicle in the country for over 40 years. But even losing its sales crown to the Toyota RAV4 doesn’t mean that American buyers purchased more Silverados than F-150s.

As for much of the rest of the US, the Hyundai Elantra takes the top spot. The NICB auto-theft insurance claim data reports that the Elantra is the most stolen vehicle in 21 states, ahead of the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, and any Kia. Years ago, the so-called “Kia Challenge” demonstrated how easily thieves could steal certain Hyundai vehicles built between 2011 and 2021. As a result, the Elantra remains at the top of the list.

So, why the Chevrolet Silverado 1500? In rural areas like much of Texas, California, and New Mexico, the trucks are plentiful. Older variations of the full-size pickup trucks are even easier to steal than more modern iterations, making them popular targets for theft.  

Source: Visual Capitalist