Data from the Auto Crimes Tracking (ACT) database shows 929 Chevrolet Silverados (including Silverado, Silverado Medium Duty, Silverado LTD, Silverado HD, and Silverado LD) were stolen in 2024, making this model the #1 stolen vehicle in the state for each of the twelve months. While pickups are popular theft models (4 of the top 10 vehicles stolen in Arizona are pickups), Silverado models far outpace the GMC Sierra, Ford F150, and Dodge Ram that also occupy spots in the top 10. Nationally, Silverados rank #3 in the top 10 stolen vehicles in 2024.
So, why are Silverados so popular with thieves? Detectives with the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force report that some Silverado model years are more susceptible to theft due to manufacturer vulnerabilities. Additionally, these pickups are popular with crime groups in Mexico.
In some instances, the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA) sees specific years and models of high-theft vehicles and can identify a vulnerability in security that makes them easier to steal, but the theft of Silverados is not confined in this way to specific model years. Silverados are overrepresented in Arizona’s theft totals across decades of the vehicle being manufactured. The top model years for stolen Silverados are 2005 and 2006, and early-year models seem to be more prevalent than newer models, but new Silverados are also stolen at a high rate. As shown in the graph below, these model-year Silverados were the top 10 most stolen in 2024.
A total of 614 Silverados were recovered in 2024, representing a recovery rate of 66%. This is a lower recovery percentage than the Arizona average of 69% for all vehicles stolen in Arizona in 2024.
The hotspots for Silverado theft appear to be central and north Phoenix and Glendale. These hotspots are not surprising, given that Phoenix, being the largest city, is always in the top areas for reported thefts, and Glendale is also a large city and frequently one of the top theft areas in the state. The AATA encourages Silverado owners to recognize the popularity of their pickups among vehicle thieves and proactively take steps to avoid becoming victims. Parking smart – that is securing the vehicle in a garage or other enclosure – parking in a well-lit area, locking doors, taking keys, and never leaving the car running and unattended will decrease the likelihood of your beloved pickup being the next statistic.
