Honda Accord is the most stolen car in the United States

From Correspondent Charles Feldman

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- People who own Honda Accords may not be pleased to learn their cars are in high demand -- by auto thieves.

The Accord tops the list of the most commonly stolen vehicles in the United States, compiled by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The NICB's data also show that increasingly, thieves are hauling off pickups, minivans and sport utility vehicles.

But there is no indication that the thieves are being all that selective. The vehicles that are stolen most often also happen to be the vehicles bought most often.

"The more you see of a particular vehicle, the chances are better that that vehicle is going to reach the top 10 of the list, just for the sheer numbers of it," says John Adams of the NICB. "And when you see that vehicle more often, the parts become more popular and more in need."

Indeed, to car thieves, a car is worth more taken apart than it is whole. Individual parts of a vehicle can fetch up to twice the value of the car.

The good news: The latest FBI figures show that auto thefts were down 4 percent in 1997.

Police say a good alarm system or a tracking device may be the most effective way to thwart thieves.