Photo: Dodge/Mopar
What happens when you take 6.2 liters of cubic displacement, sprinkle some Chrysler HEMI magic over it, stick on a supercharger larger than some economy car engines, and then shove the whole thing under the hood of Chargers, Challengers, Jeeps, and Dodge Durangos? If your answer was to create a car thief's wet dream, you're right on the money. As it turns out, Hellcats are far and away among the most stolen automobiles in North America. Is that really a surprise to anyone? But regardless, let's take a look at the details.
In a story first reported by Robert Duffer, Senior Editor at The Car Connection, all the easily accessible horsepower the Hellcat family takes for granted is just too darn irresistible for unscrupulous thieves to pass up. In regards to the Charger and Challenger Hellcats specifically, research indicates these models are stolen at a rate nearly 60 times more frequently than the average for vehicles within the 2020 to 2022 model years. For some context, the next highest stolen vehicle in America was only 20 times more likely to be involved in a theft. Of course, this vehicle is the Charger Hellcat's little brother, the Charger HEMI.
Per the numbers crunched by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Highway Loss Data Institute, a whopping 25 out of every 1000 new Charger Hellcats insured between 2020 and 2022 have been stolen so far. Compared to the same study conducted from 2019 to 2021, where 18 Charger Hellcats were stolen per 1,000 insured, it's clear the problem is going to get worse before it gets better. As a nationwide increase in car thefts spurred on by the recent global health crisis continues to proliferate, thefts of America's most powerful production muscle cars have increased proportionally. For America's law enforcement, it's a problem too large to ignore.
On the face of it, it makes sense why Charger Hellcats, Challenger Hellcats, and the entire Hellcat family would be so enticing for criminals with cruel intentions. Videos have long circled online of vehicles equipped with Hellcat engines making complete mince meat of pursuing police interceptors and even outrunning police helicopters on their way to a movie scene-adjacent escape caught on camera. Of course, the virtues of 700 horsepower to the rear wheels are pretty self-apparent regardless of the particulars of each criminal. With such readily available and attainable horsepower roaming the streets of North America, the latest trend shouldn't come as a surprise.
While the media at large grills Kia/Hyundai for failing to install immobilizers in their vehicles for consecutive model years, the same can't be said for Charger and Challenger Hellcats. Whether this has anything to do with media bias in favor of an American brand is anyone's guess. But if you're looking to put down dough for a Hellcat of your own, this is something you should seriously consider.
Per the numbers crunched by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Highway Loss Data Institute, a whopping 25 out of every 1000 new Charger Hellcats insured between 2020 and 2022 have been stolen so far. Compared to the same study conducted from 2019 to 2021, where 18 Charger Hellcats were stolen per 1,000 insured, it's clear the problem is going to get worse before it gets better. As a nationwide increase in car thefts spurred on by the recent global health crisis continues to proliferate, thefts of America's most powerful production muscle cars have increased proportionally. For America's law enforcement, it's a problem too large to ignore.
On the face of it, it makes sense why Charger Hellcats, Challenger Hellcats, and the entire Hellcat family would be so enticing for criminals with cruel intentions. Videos have long circled online of vehicles equipped with Hellcat engines making complete mince meat of pursuing police interceptors and even outrunning police helicopters on their way to a movie scene-adjacent escape caught on camera. Of course, the virtues of 700 horsepower to the rear wheels are pretty self-apparent regardless of the particulars of each criminal. With such readily available and attainable horsepower roaming the streets of North America, the latest trend shouldn't come as a surprise.
While the media at large grills Kia/Hyundai for failing to install immobilizers in their vehicles for consecutive model years, the same can't be said for Charger and Challenger Hellcats. Whether this has anything to do with media bias in favor of an American brand is anyone's guess. But if you're looking to put down dough for a Hellcat of your own, this is something you should seriously consider.
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