DAILY DIRT: Car thieves especially like those full-sized trucks

As far as I know, no car thief has ever tried to jettison my 2007 Kia Sorento … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 835 of The Daily Dirt.

1. The most stolen vehicle in the United States?

Well, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau and reported by Motor Trend magazine, full-size trucks remain the most frequently heisted vehicles.

The report, released near the end of 2023 and detailing 2022 thefts, showed the following as the most popular vehicles among car/truck/crossover thieves:

• 1. Chevrolet Silverado: 49,903 thefts
• 2. Ford F-150: 48,175 thefts
• 3. Honda Civic: 27,113 thefts   
• 4. Honda Accord: 27,089 thefts
• 5. Hyundai Sonata: 21,707 thefts
• 6. Hyundai Elantra: 19,602 thefts
• 7. Kia Optima: 18, 221 thefts
• 8. Toyota Camry: 17,094 thefts
• 9. GMC Sierra: 16,622 thefts
• 10. Honda CR-V: 13,832 thefts

2. Onward and upward. The Great Plate Plate Debate of 2024 marches forward.

Last week’s medal winners held their positions during round two of the third annual competition to find the most interesting license plates in West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri.

Gold medal: 2 FARR

Silver medal: NUFSED 9

Bronze medal: BE HAP E 2

The Daily Dirt Board of Directors came across the following plates that it felt deserved honorable mention recognition, especially GUIDO 19 (my personal favorite among this week’s near-misses). And, as always, thanks for the submissions from readers. They are always appreciated.

• MY SIS 4
• BLUE 88
• ROMANS 4
• BLESD X 2
• 10 ZANG
• TAXI K 9
• MED PEDS
• 7 CROP E
• GUIDO 19
• HOPE 84
• XXG XXM 2
• MAMA BR 4
• DBROOM 4

2023 Champion: BE A BETH

2022 Champion: IMDUMB

3. Spring training just a little more than a month away, so I thought it would be fitting to offer the following:

Remember Cecil Fielder, the rather large slugging first baseman for the Detroit Tigers, and Prince Fielder, his equally large son who later played first base for the Texas Rangers? Did you know that:

• Both Cecil and Prince Fielder each hit 319 home runs in their career.
• Each of the Fielders had 97 two-out home runs.
• The Fielders each had 18 ninth-inning home runs.

As they say, like father, like son.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — If you would add the waist sizes of both Fielders together, I’m pretty sure that figure would be more than 100. 

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He is due for a new car.