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Most stolen cars: Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, Hemi Charger top new list

Meanwhile, the BMW 3 Series and two Tesla models are the least stolen cars according to the study's metrics.

Andrew Krok Reviews Editor / Cars
Cars are Andrew's jam, as is strawberry. After spending years as a regular ol' car fanatic, he started working his way through the echelons of the automotive industry, starting out as social-media director of a small European-focused garage outside of Chicago. From there, he moved to the editorial side, penning several written features in Total 911 Magazine before becoming a full-time auto writer, first for a local Chicago outlet and then for CNET Cars.
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2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody
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2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody

Pro tip for thieves: Just follow the endless clouds of tire smoke, eventually the Hellcat will need to stop for gas.

 FCA

Having your car stolen sucks; ask me how I know. While there might not be some master list that thieves constantly cross-reference to figure out which cars are best to steal, there's definitely a pattern of which cars get more attention from scofflaws.

The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) on Thursday published its list of vehicles that are most likely to be stolen. Focusing on the 2016-2018 model years, this study only looked at whole-vehicle theft -- the HLDI has other reports that take wider theft claims, including parts, into account. The group isolated whole-vehicle theft claims by determining if the insurance payout related to a theft was around the same value as a total loss stemming from a collision.

The , when equipped with a Hemi V8, topped the HLDI's list of 2016-2018 vehicles, with a relative claim frequency more than five times the average. The SRT Hellcat wasn't too far behind, nor was the sedan. The SUV and pickup truck round out the top 5. The whole list is generally split between mass-market cars with big engines, luxury vehicles and pickup trucks .

On the other side of the spectrum, we have the sedan, which has a theft claim frequency 25 times lower than the average. Second and third place belong to the and , respectively, followed by the and . In fact, there are a number of GM SUVs on this side of the list, along with a number of Subaru vehicles.

"The models most likely to be stolen tend to be powerful, pricey or pickups, but vehicle theft is also a crime of opportunity," said HLDI senior vice president Matt Moore in a statement. "Better security features on all vehicles would be the best way to address the problem." To that end, HLDI's press release praised for falling off its list after receiving a number of antitheft features starting in the 2015 model year, including glass breakage and tilt sensors.

Take a look at the full HLDI list in the gallery below.

The most stolen cars in the US, according to a new HLDI study

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Watch this: Five things you need to know about the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye