According to the FBI report, a vehicle is stolen in the U.S. every 40 seconds, that’s about 800,000 to one million cars every single year. Pretty much shocking, huh? When I stumbled across this fact on the Internets, I got curious as to what models top the auto theft charts. Studying this question, I found even more interesting info. Did you know, for example, that most cars are stolen for the parts, not to drive around. This is partly due to global recession, which has made more people prefer to repair their cars than buy a new one. Thus, car thieves have a recession-proof business.

Below I post the latest most stolen vehicles list by The National Crime Bureau, as well as the top 10 spots where your car is most likely to be hijacked. Check out these ratings and even if your car or your neighborhood is not on the list, lock your car!

U.S. Most Stolen Vehicles

10. 2009 Toyota Corolla

• Trade-In Value (according to Kelley Blue Book): $11,100
• Original Price in 2009: $15,910
• New Car Value (2011): $17,400

Due to good maintenance value and decent gas mileage, the Corolla remains one of America’s best loved cars. Car thieves love it as well, l because the 2011 model had just minor updates and Corolla parts from prior year models can be used in the newer cars.

9. 2002 Ford Explorer

• Trade-In Value: $4,350
• Original Price in 2002: $27,775
• New Car Value (2011): $30,000

Just like in case with Corolla, popularity has played mean trick on the Ford Explorer too. People love this SUV and because of that Ford hasn’t made too many changes in subsequent models, which means lots of cool SUV parts for thieves.

8. 1994 Acura Integra

• Trade-In Value: $625
• Original Price in 1994: $16,695
• New Car Value (2011): N/A

From 1985 to 2007 the Acura Integra was the way for people to bring the “Fast and Furious” style, with everything from performance tuning to bold spoilers and blinged-up rims, to their lives. Today it’s the way for car thieves to grab rare parts and sell them to the Honda fanatics twice as expensive.

7. 1994 Chevrolet Pickup

• Trade-In Value: $1,200
• Original Price in 1994: $16,322
• New Car Value (2011): $20,800

Pickup trucks are especially popular in the south. In Texas, for instance, they are among car thieve’s top picks as Mexico is just around the corner and pickups are driven across the border where they are harder to recover.

6. 2000 Dodge Caravan

• Trade-In Value: $1,450
• Original Price in 2000: $21,905
• New Car Value (2011): $24,800

The 2000 Dodge Caravan made it to the 6th position on the list of America’s most stolen cars for basically the same reason – older models have no advanced anti-theft devices, but they have plenty of valuable parts like airbags, catalytic converters, headlights etc.

5. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup

• Trade-In Value: $5,050
• Original Price in 2004: $22,295
• New Car Value (2011): $20,100

Rams are mostly stolen for such valuable parts as the wheels and tailgates, according to Kelley Blue Book. Plus, bed cargo makes a good bait for thieves too.

4. 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup

3. 1991 Toyota Camry

• Trade-In Value: $700
• Original Price in 1991: $14,513
• New Car Value (2011): $19,900

Toyota Camry has been the best seller in its segment for many years in a row. Older models are easy to steal and the parts don’t change radically from year to year. The Camry is know for its quality and great resale value, especially if the car was enhanced with custom car accessories. As a result, it’s a prime target for thieves all across the United States.

2. 1995 Honda Civic

• Trade-In Value: $1,100
• Original Price in 1995: $11,970
• New Car Value (2011): $17,400

Not only is the Honda Civic an icon for JDM enthusiasts and street racers, but it is also a legendary car for thieves. Along with the Camry, the Civic makes the most-stolen list just about every year.

1. 1994 Honda Accord

• Trade-In Value: $975
• Original Price in 1994: $15,430
• New Car Value (2011): $20,200

The Accord is loved by both drivers and thieves and is universally hijacked all across America. So if you own an ol’ school Accord, at least make sure you have a modern anti-theft system on it. It’s definitely not a subject of vintage styling.

In addition to the list of the most stolen cars in America, here’s the top 20 spots where, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the auto theft index is extremely high.

Top Car Theft High-Risk Area

• Fresno, Calif.
• Modesto, Calif.
• Bakersfield-Delano, Calif.
• Spokane, Wash.
• Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif.
• Sacramento, Calif. area
• Stockton, Calif.
• Visalia-Porterville, Calif.
• San Francisco-Oakland, Calif. area
• Yakima, Wash.
• Laredo, Texas
• Detroit, Mich. area
• Seattle, Wash. area
• Macon, Georgia
• San Diego, Calif. area
• Myrtle Beach, SC area
• Las Vegas, Nev.
• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.
• Jackson, Miss.
• Albuquerque, NM

Yes folks, it seems the Dream state is also a dream opportunity for car thieves. Anyways, I hope I didn’t scare you – even if you got a car from the list above, it doesn’t mean that you should sleep in it to protect your car or its contents from theft. Just make sure you made some preventative measures and got some anti-theft devices on your ride. Below are some suggestion of such devices, which you can find at CARiD:

1. GPS Systems

Yes, you heard it right. Putting desirable electronics with a GPS-tracking device in the car may not protect your vehicle from stealing, but they can help the police to get on the trail of car thefts and recover your vehicle.

2. Tonneau covers

An open truck bed is regularly attacked by sun, wind, rain and dust, not to mention wandering eyes and fast hands it’s exposed to. Imagine the impact this may have on your truck’s bed and the cargo you carry in it. A tonneau cover can eliminate these issues in one quick operation.

3. Wheel locks

Ordering custom rims from CARiD, you can give your custom accessories additional protection by opting in for wheel locks. Wheel locks must first be unlocked with a specially-shaped key before they can be removed, protecting the car’s assets from theft.