Theft of Dodge Charger Hellcat Tops the List in America by a Wide Margin

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Hellcat models are a prime target for thieves. Between 2020 and 2022, the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), a division of the IIHS, recorded a substantial number of thefts of Dodge Charger Hellcats that left experts astonished. Senior Vice President Matt Moore of HLDI stated in a recent study, “If you happen to own a Hellcat, it’s wise to double-check your driveway.”

During the mentioned two-year period, HLDI registered 6,128 theft claims related to Charger Hellcats. This equates to an average of 255 claims monthly over 24 months, significantly surpassing the second most stolen vehicle, the Dodge Charger (featuring a Hemi), which accumulated a total of 2,197 claims.

What about the third position? The Infiniti Q50, with 878 theft claims. The average theft claim count per car between 2020 and 2022 was 100. This signifies that the Charger Hellcat was stolen more than 60 times above the average rate. HLDI points out that these figures cover complete vehicle theft claims and do not include claims for stolen components such as wheels or catalytic converters.

Regrettably, the situation is deteriorating. From 2017 to 2019, the most targeted car was the Infiniti Q60, averaging two thefts per 1,000 insured vehicle years (a commonly used metric for performance assessment in a specific context). On the other hand, between 2020 and 2022, the Charger Hellcat averaged 25 thefts per 1,000 insured vehicle years.

In contrast, during the same period, the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y were among the least stolen, with only three claims each. The reason for the infrequent theft of Teslas remains unclear, but factors like Sentry Mode or the vehicles’ high connectivity and tracking capabilities could be contributing. It’s also possible that Teslas are simply not appealing to thieves. It’s worth noting that electric vehicles are seldom targeted for theft, which is understandable given their lower numbers compared to conventional vehicles.

If you own a Charger Hellcat or any robust V8-powered Dodge muscle car, it’s advisable to visit a local dealership for additional theft prevention measures. The company provides a complimentary software upgrade known as Key Programming Lockdown to counter unauthorized duplication of key fobs for Chargers and Challengers dating back to the 2015 model year.

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