Pickup Truck Theft Is Surging – Especially for Ford, Chevy, and Ram Owners
Auto theft in California may be down in 2024, but for pickup truck owners, the threat hasn’t gone away. In fact, even as overall vehicle theft dropped 13% statewide, thefts of popular pickups like the Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado, and Ram 1500 continue to dominate the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) most stolen vehicle lists. These trucks are still among the top targets for thieves, and certain models, especially older Ford Super Duty trucks, remain exceptionally vulnerable.
Don’t Let the Downtrend Fool You
The latest numbers from the California Highway Patrol and FBI show that vehicle theft in California hit a high of over 208,000 reported cases in 2023 before falling to 176,000 in 2024. That sounds like progress, and it is, but zoom in, and the story is more complicated.
In places like Los Angeles, Fresno, Modesto, and the San Fernando Valley, thefts actually increased during the first half of 2024. Many of those thefts were pickup trucks. Thieves target them not only because of their resale value and demand for parts, but also because certain models are extremely easy to steal.
Take the Ford Super Duty, for example. Models built before 2006 have a known ignition flaw that allows thieves to drive off in seconds. They don’t need to hack anything or clone a key. Just pop the lock, turn a screwdriver, and they’re gone, unless you’ve done something to stop them.
Real Truck Owners. Real Attempted Thefts.
That’s exactly what happened to Jacob Silveira in Sacramento. A student and truck owner, Jacob walked out to his 2005 F-250 one morning to find signs of a break-in attempt, tools left behind, ignition tampered with, and the cap popped off.
Fortunately, Jacob had just installed a Ravelco Anti-Theft Device. Without the Ravelco plug in place, his engine couldn’t start. The thieves had no choice but to leave empty-handed.
“They tried, but they couldn’t take it. If I didn’t have Ravelco, that truck would’ve been gone,” Jacob said.
Why Alarms, Clubs, and Trackers Fail
Truck owners often turn to alarms, steering wheel clubs, or GPS trackers, but none of these methods truly prevent theft. Alarms may sound intimidating, but thieves know exactly where they’re wired under the dash and can silence them in seconds. Most people ignore alarms in parking lots anyway, assuming it’s just another false trigger.
Steering wheel clubs can be a temporary inconvenience, but experienced thieves carry simple power tools that cut them off in moments. They may slow down a theft attempt, but they rarely stop one.
GPS trackers are sometimes marketed as advanced protection, but they only help after your truck has already been stolen. By the time police locate the vehicle, it’s often stripped, damaged, or across the border. Even when recovered, trucks branded as “stolen/recovered” lose 5–15% of their resale value. In short, alarms, clubs, and trackers can’t prevent theft — they just deal with the aftermath.
As Ravelco President Richard Biscevic explained:
“We don’t sell alarms, clubs, or trackers because none of that stuff really works in the end. We sell one product — and it’s been successful for nearly 50 years.”
Don’t Wait Until It’s Gone
Even with theft rates falling statewide, trucks are still being stolen every single day. Organized theft rings haven’t stopped, especially in regions like the Central Valley, San Fernando Valley, and Bay Area, where pickups are prime targets.
Whether your truck is a daily driver, a workhorse, or your pride and joy, protecting it starts before a theft attempt ever happens.
Protect your pickup before it’s too late.
Truck Theft Prevention FAQs
What trucks are stolen the most?
Ford F-Series pickups top the NICB’s “most stolen” list almost every year, followed by Chevrolet Silverados and Ram pickups. These trucks are popular workhorses, and their parts are in high demand, which makes them especially attractive to organized theft rings. Because they are widely used across the U.S., there’s always a resale market for stolen trucks and components.
Why are Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks at higher risk?
Older Ford Super Duty trucks built before 2006 have an ignition system design flaw that makes them easy to steal. In many cases, a thief can force entry and drive off in less than 10 seconds, leaving owners with almost no time to react. This vulnerability has made them one of the most common theft targets, and it highlights why relying on basic alarms or locks simply isn’t enough.
Do car alarms or clubs prevent truck theft?
No. Alarms are often ignored by the public and can be disabled quickly by experienced thieves, while clubs can be sawed off with simple power tools. GPS trackers are sometimes used, but they only help after the theft, not before. None of these options physically stop the engine from running, which is why they cannot match the effectiveness of a true immobilizer like Ravelco.
What’s the best way to prevent truck theft?
The most reliable way is to install a mechanical immobilizer. The Ravelco Anti-Theft Device prevents the engine from starting without its unique plug, which eliminates the opportunity for hotwiring or key cloning. With decades of success and zero documented defeats, it remains the most cost-effective and proven pickup truck theft prevention system available.
Does my new truck need a Ravelco?
While the rates of older truck theft is higher, new trucks are still targeted and successful stolen. Crime stats from The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) show thousands and thousands of 2024 and 2025 trucks have been stolen. And the rate of theft of newer trucks will only increase.
