This is the most stolen car in San Francisco — and it's not a Honda or Toyota
But over the last two years, another car maker saw one of its models stolen more than any other car in the city.
While car thefts in San Francisco are low compared to prior years, new police department data shows that more than 1,200 Hondas were stolen in the city across 2023 and 2024.
But the most frequently stolen model in San Francisco was the Hyundai Elantra, which a recent national study found was the vehicle most at risk of being stolen across the country. In San Francisco, out of 1,120 Hyundais stolen, more than 500 of them were Elantras.
The second-most frequently stolen car model was the Honda Civic, with 420 thefts from 2023 to 2024. Following that was the Honda Accord, with 339 thefts, and the Hyundai Sonata, with 298 thefts.
Honda, Hyundai and Toyota were the top three car brands stolen most from 2023 to 2024, respectively. The number of brands stolen in a particular city often strongly corresponds with the numbers of cars that are popular in that city or state, said Brian Maas, president of the California New Dealers Association, who said he wasn't surprised to see Honda and Toyota in the top three, given how pervasive they are across the state.
'Californians have expressed a longstanding preference for Toyota and Honda vehicles,' he said. 'It makes logical sense. The more you sell, the more opportunities for those vehicles to be stolen.'
Hyundais were most recently listed as the 7th largest brand in California, Maas said, well behind Tesla and other brands. But in San Francisco, Hyundais saw a sharp spike in theft in San Francisco from 2022 to 2023, when the number of thefts jumped from about 140 to over 750. By 2024, however, thefts of Hyundais had fallen by a third.
Still, the temporary spike of Hyundai thefts aligns with the national study of stolen vehicles, where researchers speculated that the Elantra's 'popularity among thieves' may be because its parts are compatible with other Hyundai models, a boon that makes the models more amenable to black-market resale and chop shops.
Across the country, more than 48,445 Hyundai Elantras were stolen in 2023, according to Tinting Laws, a group of window tinting law experts who analyzed data from the Insurance Information Institute.
Data from the Highway Loss Data Institute found that Hyundai and Kia thefts rapidly increased in recent years across the country, which the institute partly attributed to videos posted to social media that broadcasted the fact that certain car models lacked a security device that would normally stop a car from turning off without a specific fob or key.
Hyundai and Kia agreed to pay upward of $200 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged the companies manufactured vehicles that made the cars easier to steal, the New York Times reported.
Recent theft numbers for Kia in San Francisco may reflect what was happening across the nation. Kia thefts jumped in 2021 from 43 to 97 in 2022. By 2023, they had reached 547. In 2024, thefts had plummeted to 207.
Hyundai Motor America said it had included free software upgrades, cylinder protectors and reimbursement programs to thwart thefts of certain 'entry-level models' that lacked immobilizers, Reuters reported. The company said 68% of vehicles at risk had received those updates.
Tesla — which held 12% market share of vehicles sold in California in 2024 — has not seen significant increases in thefts in San Francisco. Tesla thefts have gone up slightly in the past two years, but not by much. In 2023, there were 33 reported thefts, and those reduced slightly to 20 in 2024, SFPD data shows.
Maas said that although Tesla had moved up to the top three in popularity across the state, their market share seems to be declining and their reshare value has been dropping precipitously, which could explain why the cars are not as attractive to thieves.
'Stealing vehicles is a crime of opportunity. … And you're going to have a harder time getting rid of the parts on a Tesla vehicle than you would on some of those other cars,' said Maas. 'Toyotas and Hondas are going to stay on the road for a long time and consequentially, the value of those vehicles as used cars is going to be significantly higher.'
Nationwide, car theft numbers are seeing decreases. In 2024, about 850,000 vehicles were reported stolen nationwide, according to data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. 2024 was the first time since 2021 that thefts did not surpass 1 million.
Numbers in San Francisco seem to reflect similar trends. Car thefts decreased by 22% last year, from over 5,100 in 2023 to just under 4,000 in 2024.
Harsha Devulapalli contributed to this report.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Get Ready To Thank Tariffs For Making Cheap Cars More Expensive
Brace yourself for an alarming statistic. A whopping 92 percent of new vehicles sold in the U.S. priced under $30,000 are imports. The eight percent that aren't do not exactly constitute a rounding error, but you would not be unfairly criticized if you argued that basically all America's cheap cars come from someplace else. The stat comes from and the site's Industry Insights Report for the first half of 2025, which concludes that the Trump administration's tariffs are "disproportionately affecting" the cheap car market. For the record, the only American-made cars that cost less than 30 grand are not domestic models: we're talking about the stalwart Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. OK, technically speaking these are "American" cars because they're made in U.S. factories, but the ugly truth is that cheap vehicles from Ford and GM are imports from Mexico, China, and South Korea. According to the study, the supply of these inexpensive rides is going to dry up, triggering price increases as tariffs kick in through the second half of the year. You might ask yourself why the U.S. market relies so heavily on imports to stock the under-$30,000 segment. The answer is high labor costs in America, but that isn't the whole story. Cheap cars aren't very profitable, if they're profitable at all. GM, Ford, and Stellantis (owner of the Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, and RAM brands) would rather sell you a more expensive pickup truck or large SUV than a compact sedan and are happy to make those vehicles in U.S. plants. Read more: These Are Your Favorite Factory Exhaust Designs Why Are All The Cheap Cars Imported? For decades, the manufacturing of small, cheap vehicles has effectively been outsourced to other countries. This has enabled American companies to remain in the segment. Tariffs are upsetting this arrangement. For auto executives, the way forward is mostly bad. Years ago, I covered a briefing at the Detroit Auto Show by then-FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne, and he was completely unflinching in his assessment of the affordable small-car market in the U.S. It was for the foreign carmakers to dominate, as in his view they had figured out how to make an acceptable margin. When interest rates were low, this arrangement actually wasn't a major issue – buyers simply financed their way into more expensive vehicles, and for years the average transaction price on new cars and trucks has been trending up (although lately its been in moderate retreat). But interest rates aren't low anymore. And with tariffs, cheap cars are about to get more expensive. There was a run on new-car sales in early 2025 when tariffs were announced, as consumers sought to snap up vehicles before the import taxes hit and the automakers rolled out incentives to move the metal off dealer lots. That phase now appears to be ending, and the U.S. market is preparing to accept a new normal. The question is whether more domestic manufacturing will come online or whether carmakers will reduce production as prices invariably rise and demand flags. Could The U.S. Market Remake Itself? I don't see a scenario in which cheap vehicles suddenly aren't imported in droves. So if tariffs aren't dialed back, the entry-level tier is set up for a world of hurt. It's depressing to consider this outcome after decades of Americans enjoying the world's most competitive market and having access to all manner of choice when it comes time to purchase a new set of wheels. Supporters of Trump's tariffs will insist that the policy will force automakers to increase U.S. production, build factories here, and ultimately hire more U.S. workers. But students of Trump's actual motives understand that what he and his trade advisors might actually want is to compel exporters to eat the tariffs, effectively paying a substantial toll for access to the U.S. market. That idea relies on prices somehow not going up, and of course Trump has jawboned the car companies to shield consumers from the well-understood economics of tariffs. They might play along. But that would mean they'll lose even more money on inexpensive cars than they are already. The logical response would be to reduce supply. In the near term, we're likely to see fewer sub-$30,000 cars available as tariffs make life far more unpleasant for the segment. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Minnesota man sentenced to 59 years for crash that killed 5 young women
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota man was sentenced to nearly 59 years Thursday for causing a crash that killed five young women who were out making preparations for a friend's wedding. Derrick Thompson admitted his guilt for the first time and begged for forgiveness at an emotional sentencing hearing. He said he was sorry for what he did and 'there is not a day I don't ask God why he didn't take me instead and let your beautiful angels still be here,' the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. But relatives and friends of the victims offered no forgiveness at the hearing. Instead, they attacked Thompson for waiting until his sentencing to admit his crimes and putting their families through two criminal trials. A state court jury convicted the 29-year-old from the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park of third-degree murder and vehicular homicide for the June 2023 crash that killed Salma Abdikadir, Siham Adam, Sabiriin Ali, Sahra Gesaade and Sagal Hersi. His defense claimed during the trial that Thompson was not the driver of an SUV that ran a red light and plowed into a Honda Civic. The victims, between 17 and 20 years old, were on their way home from preparations for a friend's wedding. Their deaths sparked sorrow and outrage in Minnesota's sizable Somali American community. 'I hope reality suffocates you for the rest of your life,' said Sundus Odhowa, Siham Adam's older sister. 'You should never know freedom again. You should never know peace.' Authorities say Thompson was driving a rented Cadillac Escalade SUV at more than 100 mph (160 kph) down a freeway in Minneapolis before exiting, blowing through the red light and smashing into the sedan in which the young women were riding. Minnesota inmates typically serve two-thirds of their sentences in prison and one-third on supervised release. With credit for 767 days of time already served, Thompson could go free in about 37 years. Thompson, who already had a felony record, was convicted separately in November on federal drug and firearms charges. He's still awaiting sentencing on those counts. Thompson is the son of a former Democratic state representative from St. Paul who was sharply critical of police during his one term in office.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
2 charged in connection with Eagan street racing crash that killed 2
Two people face charges in connection with a high-speed crash that killed two young men, which authorities said occurred during a street race. Melody Little, 24 of West St. Paul, and Jordan Weiland, a 20-year-old from White Bear Lake, are each charged with two counts of third-degree murder and two counts of criminal vehicular homicide, according to court documents filed Thursday. The fatal crash happened in Eagan, Minnesota, on June 14. According to a criminal complaint, responding police found three vehicles: a Jeep that was split in half, a Honda with "significant damage" and an undamaged Dodge. Investigators said the three vehicles were going from a "car meet up" in South St. Paul to another in Eagan when the Jeep and Honda lost control on Highway 55. Both went over the concrete median, and the Jeep hit a pole. Police identified Little and Weiland as the drivers of the Dodge and Honda, respectively. Weiland left the scene in another vehicle and police later found him at a hospital, the complaint states. Both people in the Jeep — 19-year-old Reed Schultz and 18-year-old Finnian Cronin — were unresponsive and taken to a hospital. Schultz died shortly after arrival, and Cronin died of his injuries on July 1. Witnesses told police the cars were going more than 100 mph before the crash and presumed they were racing. Videos taken inside the Dodge and Honda confirm each car was going about 110 mph, the complaint states. Little and Weiland both denied they were racing when interviewed by police, though Weiland "agreed that his actions were eminently dangerous," the complaint states. Finnian Cronin's mother Teresa Cronin said his death "is just earth-shattering and life-changing for all of us." The family has received an outpouring of support from the community. "One night, driving home from the hospital, I said to Teresa, 'Do you have any anger towards anyone?' And she said, 'No, I just, my heart breaks for the parents of the other kid,'" said Finnian Cronin's father, Chris Cronin. "Just a terribly unfortunate thing that happened to a bunch of kids that made a poor decision." Note: The video above originally aired July 21, 2025.
