Chevrolet and GMC drivers are warned they could lose $1,000s after scary new list reveals worrying trend for their cars

CHEVROLET and GMC drivers are being warned about a worrying trend of increased thefts targeting their vehicles.

A new study found that the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the most frequently stolen car across the US, followed by other Chevrolet and GMC vehicles like the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado trucks.

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Drivers across the US have been warned of the nation’s most-stolen cars[/caption]

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Chevrolet and GMC vehicles like the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado trucks are among the top 20[/caption]

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But the study found that the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the most frequently stolen car across the country[/caption]

According to CBS News, which uses data from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), these vehicles are being targeted due to vulnerabilities found in their keyless entry systems, as well their general desirability among thieves.

General Motors, which owns both brands, has since released software updates and security measures to address these issues, but drivers are being advised to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.

The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which comes in a top spot, has a recorded theft rate that is 39 times higher than average for 2022 to 2024 models.

It’s believed thieves are simply drawn to its high horsepower and performance, while its on-board data ports are said to make it easier to steal.

Coming in second place is the Acura TLX 4WD, with a theft rate 21 times higher than average, while the standard Chevrolet Camaro comes in third.

The non-ZL1 version holds a theft rate 13 times higher than average.

Other frequently stolen vehicles include pickup trucks like the GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Durango and luxury SUVs like the Range Rover and Cadillac Escalade.

Thieves generally prefer expensive, powerful vehicles, including muscle cars and pickup trucks – with muscle cars especially targeted.

Matt Moore, chief insurance operations officer at HLDI, said: “What all vehicles in the top 20 have in common is that they are relatively expensive, relatively powerful and in many cases they are pickup trucks.”

He added: “In the case of Camaro ZL1, it is very desirable to thieves, and, on top of that, there’s a vulnerability that makes it relatively easy to steal.

“Due to the vulnerability, with the right knowledge and right bits of technology, someone who can gain access to the inside of one of these Camaros can steal it relatively easily.”

Chevrolet and GMC drivers could, as a result, end up losing thousands of dollars, including the cost of replacing stolen vehicles, insurance deductibles, increased premiums, loss of personal items and indirect expenses from time and inconvenience.

On the other side, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids dominate the list of the least stolen cars, with examples including Tesla models such as the Model 3, Model Y, Model S, as well as the Volvo XC90, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6.

EVs are considered harder to steal because of their connected technology and the need for regular charging – which often requires a garage.

Generally, it means these vehicles are less likely to be parked on streets overnight, which reduces theft opportunities.

Elsewhere, a motorist has lost her entire inheritance after shelling out $10,000 on a car she’s never seen.

And another driver said she was wasting hours bussing to work after paying for a vehicle that “broke down almost immediately.”

Both Maryland women, Tammie Skinner and Debra Godsey, have aired their grievances against a used car dealership in Baltimore, Maryland.

They claimed to ABC-affiliate WMAR-TV that they have lost thousands of dollars buying cars from Vehicle Veterans, a registered business in the state which offers a brokerage service.

They are among a “handful of customers” who have claimed the firm took advantage of them as they fight to recover their money.

A 2012 Chevrolet Traverse all-wheel drive LT delivered to Godsey broke down almost immediately, she said.

A tearful Skinner, who lives in Calvert County, explained how she had spent $10,000 in March – with the inheritance money coming from her late mom, who died in 2023.

The broadcaster told viewers that “to this day, she has no car, no savings and no easy way to get to doctor’s appointments after being diagnosed with a life-altering disease.”

How to prevent vehicle theft

Here are 10 ways to avoid your car being stolen according to an auto insurance company:

1. Lock your doors. It makes it more difficult for thieves to access anything inside the vehicle.
2. Keep your keys on your person. With smart keys and fobs, a car can be unlocked if the key is close by. If the key is inside or on your person, it can’t be unlocked.
3. Don’t leave a spare key near the vehicle, as thieves know to look for them in common places like in a wheel well, under items in the driveway, or in the glovebox.
4. Keep windows closed. If a window is open, thieves can manually unlock the doors.
5. Park in well-lit areas, as it helps detour thieves if their actions are visible to passersby.
6. If your vehicle doesn’t have one, consider an anti-theft alarm system.
7. If you live in a high-crime area, consider an immobilizer device that utilizes a kill switch if the device doesn’t recognize an authorized key.
8. Consider a tracking device to be able to keep tabs on your vehicle’s location if it’s stolen.
9. Never leave valuables in the car, especially in a visible spot. Thieves know to look in the floor boards, passenger, or rear seats for valuables.
10. Double-check before leaving the vehicle that it’s secure.
11. To protect wheels and tires, especially aftermarket wheels, consider wheel lock lug nuts. They require a special socket to remove, so they’re impossible to remove without it.

Source: Allstate Auto Insurance