New Data Reveals Thieves’ Love Affair with Hyundai Is in the Rear-View

Hyundai isn’t as successful a target for vehicle thieves as it once was. In fact, no Hyundai vehicle made the latest list of “Most Stolen Vehicles.”   And the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, is actually on the “Least Stolen Vehicles” list. Those lists are compiled each year by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI). 

When some older Hyundai models hit the list of most-stolen vehicles earlier this decade, it became clear that they hadn’t been equipped with electronic immobilizers. Hyundai responded with a theft-deterrent software upgrade. Now the 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid has a proud place among least-stolen vehicles, and nary a Hyundai is on the most-stolen list. But thieves are always improving their methods, so theft does still occur.

Colorado is a vehicle theft hotspot. Per 100,000 people there were 430.0 stolen vehicles, making the Centennial State #3 for vehicle thefts per 100,000 people. Overall, there were 25,378 stolen vehicles, and that was down by almost a quarter from the year before. In fact, like most crime in Colorado, vehicle thefts are declining. But any is too many.

Location, Lights and Timing

Thieves like to operate in cities, where there are so many more targets of opportunity – so Aurora, Denver, Lakewood, Pueblo and Colorado Springs are most attractive. They favor vehicles that are parked on streets and roads and in parking lots and garages. They also like to work after dark, with the greatest number of thefts occurring between 4 p.m. and 4 a.m. 

If your vehicle is stolen there’s an 86% chance it will be recovered, usually within two days. But the vehicle will probably never be the same, returning to you dirty, damaged and stripped. 

Don’t Be a Vehicle Theft Victim

Whether you get your vehicle back or not, you likely are in for some major inconvenience dealing with the police and your insurance company. Better to get out ahead of the thieves with some fairly easy theft-prevention steps:

• Park your Hyundai in a well-lit area.
• Always lock your Hyundai and for sure never leave it running unattended.
• Always hide any valuables.
• Consider laying a little extra out for anti-theft devices including alarms that make noise and flash the lights, steering-wheel locks, and tracking devices like GPS and smart phone apps like “Find My.”

Thieves Find EVs Shocking

We at Schomp Hyundai are extra happy that the 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is among this year’s Least Stolen vehicles. It’s worth noting that many of the vehicles on the list are electric and hybrid vehicles. Hyundai is leading the way toward electrifying its model lineup with its signature Ioniq 5, 6 and the new Ioniq 9 and several other EVs and hybrids. Thumb your nose at the vehicle thieves! Our client advisors can help you find the right one for your lifestyle.