A pickup truck can be a valuable work tool, family vehicle, or daily commuter, which makes theft especially frustrating for owners. California recorded thousands of stolen personal trucks and SUVs in 2024, and the California Highway Patrol’s data shows a clear pattern among the trucks appearing near the top of the list. The Chevrolet Silverado dominates the first several positions, with older model years accounting for many reported thefts.
The GMC Sierra also appears twice among the 10 highest-ranked trucks. The figures below come directly from the California Highway Patrol’s 2024 Vehicle Theft Fact Sheet, which ranks personal trucks and SUVs by make, model, model year, and number of thefts.
1. Chevrolet Silverado (2001 model year)
The 2001 Chevrolet Silverado takes the top spot in the California Highway Patrol’s 2024 list of stolen personal trucks and SUVs, with 926 reported thefts. That figure puts this particular model year well ahead of the other trucks included in the top 10.
The number is worth paying attention to because the ranking is based on a specific combination of make, model, and model year. It does not mean every Silverado is equally likely to be stolen. Instead, the 2001 model year recorded the highest number of thefts among the entries listed by CHP.
Why does an older pickup appear so high? Several practical factors can influence theft numbers, including the number of vehicles still being used, how widely a particular model was sold, and the security equipment fitted when the vehicle was manufactured.
A vehicle that has been on the road for decades may also have fewer modern security features than a newer truck. For owners of a 2001 Silverado, the statistic is a useful reminder to take vehicle security seriously.
CHP recommends locking vehicles, using anti-theft devices, parking in well-lit locations, keeping keys out of the vehicle, and using a secure garage when possible.
The 926 thefts reported in 2024 make this model year the clearest entry on the list, but the figure should be viewed as a statewide count rather than a prediction that an individual truck will be stolen.
2. Chevrolet Silverado (2002 model year)
The 2002 Chevrolet Silverado ranks second, with 828 thefts reported in California during 2024. Like the truck in first place, it belongs to an older generation of Silverado pickups, making the presence of several early-2000s trucks near the top particularly striking.
There is only one model year separating this truck from the number-one entry, yet the reported count falls by 98 vehicles. That still leaves the 2002 Silverado comfortably ahead of every truck below it in the CHP table.
For owners, the statistic provides a reason to pay attention to everyday security habits. Leaving a pickup unlocked, keeping keys inside it, or parking in an isolated area can create unnecessary opportunities for theft.
CHP specifically recommends locking vehicles, removing keys, using anti-theft equipment, and choosing well-lit parking areas. Another useful point is that theft totals do not automatically reveal why a particular model year appears frequently.
The CHP fact sheet records the number of reported thefts, but it does not state that one particular security weakness caused all 828 incidents. Treating the number as a warning rather than proof of a specific cause is a better way to read the data.
The 2002 Silverado was also a widely sold pickup, meaning many examples have remained in circulation. A large number of vehicles on the road can naturally affect theft totals.
With 828 reported thefts, this Silverado remains one of California’s most frequently stolen truck entries for 2024.
3. Chevrolet Silverado (2006 model year)
The 2006 Chevrolet Silverado occupies third place with 826 reported thefts in California in 2024. The difference between this truck and the second-ranked 2002 model is just two thefts, making the two entries remarkably close in the CHP’s figures.
That narrow gap gives the third-place position some extra weight. A reader looking only at the ranking might assume there is a wide difference between the second and third trucks, but the actual numbers tell a different story.
The 2006 Silverado also highlights a broader trend in the CHP data, where older Chevrolet pickup models consistently occupy many of the top spots.
The first seven entries are all Chevrolet Silverado model years from 2000 through 2006. That does not mean newer trucks are immune. The same CHP table includes newer Silverado model years later in the ranking, including 2021 and 2023 models.
For someone who owns a 2006 Silverado, basic precautions remain useful. CHP advises motorists to park in secure garages when possible, use anti-theft equipment, keep doors locked, and avoid leaving keys inside the vehicle.
It is also worth remembering that a theft statistic describes reported incidents across California, not the personal odds for one owner. Location, parking conditions, vehicle security, and other circumstances can differ widely.
Still, with 826 thefts recorded, the 2006 Silverado deserves attention from anyone researching California’s most frequently stolen trucks.
4. Chevrolet Silverado (2004 model year)
The 2004 Chevrolet Silverado ranks fourth on the California Highway Patrol’s 2024 list, recording 810 reported thefts. It is the fourth consecutive Silverado model year to appear at the top of the table, extending a pattern that becomes difficult to miss when the numbers are placed together.
The truck’s total is only 16 below the 2006 Silverado in third place. That narrow difference shows how closely clustered the first four entries are. Each one recorded more than 800 thefts during the year.
For owners, the important takeaway is not to assume that an older pickup is too ordinary to attract attention. CHP’s theft-prevention advice applies to vehicles of many types and ages.
The agency recommends locking doors, using anti-theft devices, parking in well-lit areas, and using a secure garage when possible. A Silverado can also serve several purposes, from commuting and hauling equipment to towing and recreational use.
Because trucks are often left outside homes, workplaces, job sites, or public parking areas, owners may need to think about security in several different settings.
The CHP data does not identify the reason why 2004 Silverados were reported stolen so frequently. The fact sheet simply records the reported theft count for each vehicle entry. That distinction matters when reading the figures responsibly.
At 810 thefts, the 2004 Silverado remains firmly within the group of California trucks that recorded the highest reported theft totals in 2024.
5. Chevrolet Silverado (2005 model year)
The 2005 Chevrolet Silverado comes fifth, with 768 reported thefts in California during 2024. Although its total is lower than the four Silverado entries above it, the figure still places this truck well above the remaining entries in the top 10.
The result adds another early-2000s Silverado to a list that is already heavily dominated by the nameplate. Five of the first five positions are Chevrolet Silverados, covering model years from 2001 through 2006, with the 2004 and 2005 versions appearing side by side in the ranking.
For a truck owner, statistics like this can be useful for deciding whether extra security equipment deserves consideration. CHP recommends anti-theft devices, secure parking, locked doors, and taking the vehicle’s keys with you.
The agency also warns motorists never to leave a spare ignition key hidden on the vehicle. The age of the truck can make preventive care particularly worthwhile.
Owners of older pickups may already be accustomed to maintaining mechanical parts, but security deserves attention too. A dependable truck can still be a target for theft if basic precautions are ignored.
It would be inaccurate to claim that every 2005 Silverado faces the same level of danger. California is a large state, and circumstances vary between neighborhoods, parking locations, and daily routines. The CHP figure represents reported thefts across the state.
With 768 thefts, however, the 2005 Silverado clearly belongs among the truck models California owners should keep on their security radar.
6. Chevrolet Silverado (2003 model year)
The 2003 Chevrolet Silverado ranks sixth, with 761 reported thefts in the CHP’s 2024 data. The number sits just seven below the 2005 model year, showing how tightly grouped several Silverado entries are within the state’s theft statistics.
There is something unusual about seeing so many model years from the same pickup family occupy consecutive positions. The CHP list shows 2001, 2002, 2006, 2004, 2005, and 2003 Silverados filling the first six spots. That gives the Silverado a particularly strong presence in the state’s top 10 truck entries.
For vehicle owners, the ranking should serve as a reason to stay cautious rather than become alarmed. The CHP recommends several simple precautions, including locking the vehicle, taking the keys, using anti-theft devices, and parking in well-lit areas. When possible, keeping the vehicle in a secure garage can provide an additional layer of protection.
The 2003 model is now an older pickup, and many examples have spent years serving as work trucks, personal vehicles, or utility vehicles. Owners may leave them parked at job sites, driveways, streets, or commercial lots, creating different security situations.
The CHP fact sheet does not provide a reason for the 761 thefts, so the statistic should not be used to claim that one specific component or feature caused the incidents. It is simply a count of reported thefts assigned to this make, model, and year.
At 761 reported thefts, the 2003 Silverado remains one of the highest-ranked trucks in California’s 2024 theft data.
7. Chevrolet Silverado (2000 model year)
The 2000 Chevrolet Silverado holds seventh place with 754 reported thefts. It is the oldest Silverado among the first seven entries and continues the remarkable run of Chevrolet pickups at the top of the California Highway Patrol’s 2024 personal truck and SUV table.
Its count is only seven below the 2003 Silverado. That small difference shows that the first seven positions are not separated by huge gaps. Instead, a group of early Silverado model years recorded similarly high theft totals.
A 2000 model is now more than two decades old, which makes sensible security habits especially useful. CHP recommends several simple measures, including locking the vehicle, removing the keys, using anti-theft equipment, and parking in a secure garage when possible.
Owners can also pay attention to where and when the truck is parked. A vehicle left outside for long periods may benefit from additional protection compared with one kept inside a locked garage. Visible parking areas can also reduce opportunities for someone to approach the vehicle without being noticed.
The theft count should not be interpreted as a guarantee that a particular 2000 Silverado will be stolen. Vehicle theft is affected by many circumstances, and the CHP report does not provide individual risk calculations for owners.
Still, 754 reported thefts put the 2000 Silverado well ahead of the GMC Sierra entries that appear later on the list. For anyone researching California vehicle theft patterns, this older Silverado is an important entry.
8. Chevrolet Silverado (2007 model year)
The 2007 Chevrolet Silverado ranks eighth with 444 reported thefts in California during 2024. The number represents a clear drop from the first seven entries, each of which recorded at least 754 thefts. Even so, 444 reported thefts place the 2007 Silverado among the 10 truck entries with the highest counts in the CHP data.
This model year is also interesting because it extends the Silverado run at the top of the table. Seven different Silverado model years appear among the first eight positions, with only the GMC Sierra entering the list later.
For owners, there is no reason to treat a lower ranking as permission to relax. CHP advises drivers to use anti-theft devices, park in well-lit locations, lock their vehicles, and take their keys with them. Those measures are simple enough to become part of a regular parking routine.
The 2007 model is newer than most of the Silverado entries ahead of it, yet it still recorded hundreds of reported thefts. That serves as a useful reminder that vehicle age alone does not determine theft exposure.
The CHP report provides the numbers but does not explain why individual vehicles were stolen. It would therefore be misleading to assign one cause to the 444 incidents without additional evidence.
For Silverado owners in California, the takeaway is simple. No matter the model year, taking basic security precautions is still important. With 444 reported thefts, the 2007 Silverado remains one of the most frequently stolen personal trucks in the state.
9. GMC Sierra (2005 model year)
The 2005 GMC Sierra breaks the Chevrolet Silverado streak at ninth place, with 286 reported thefts in California during 2024. It is the first GMC model to appear in the top 10 and sits considerably below the 2007 Silverado’s total of 444.
The Sierra is closely related to the Silverado in the broader pickup market, so its appearance alongside several Silverado model years is hardly surprising. Still, the CHP figures distinguish each vehicle by its specific make, model, and model year.
The 286 reported thefts show that the Sierra remains part of California’s vehicle theft picture. Owners should therefore apply the same basic precautions recommended for other trucks. CHP advises locking vehicles, taking keys with you, using anti-theft equipment, choosing well-lit parking spaces, and using secure garages when available.
Daily habits can make those precautions easier to follow. A driver who routinely checks that doors are locked, removes valuables, and takes the keys after parking creates several simple barriers against theft.
It is also worth keeping the statistic in proportion. The CHP report does not say that every 2005 Sierra has the same risk. The 286 figure represents reported incidents statewide during 2024 and does not account for how many of these trucks were registered or actively used.
Still, the placement is enough to put the 2005 Sierra on the radar of California truck owners. Its 286 reported thefts make it the ninth-highest truck entry in the CHP’s 2024 list.
10. GMC Sierra (2006 model year)
Closing out this list, the 2006 Sierra recorded 270 thefts, the lowest figure among all ten trucks but still a meaningful number that shouldn’t be dismissed as insignificant. Following the exact same pattern established by its Silverado counterparts, this model year sits just below the 2005 Sierra in total theft incidents, continuing the gradual decline seen across most of this list’s later entries.
Should Sierra owners feel relatively reassured by finishing at the bottom of this particular ranking? Context matters here. Being the tenth most stolen truck in an entire state still means hundreds of these vehicles get stolen annually, a genuinely serious number regardless of where it lands compared to the Silverado’s higher totals.
Taken as a whole, the list points to a clear pattern. Chevrolet and GMC trucks produced between 2000 and 2006 appear to share security weaknesses that have been widely exploited by thieves across California. Within this particular group, a newer model does not necessarily offer better protection, while an older model is not automatically more likely to be targeted.
For anyone who currently owns or is considering a Sierra or Silverado from this period, the advice is simple. Consider adding aftermarket security devices, choose parking locations carefully, and do not assume your truck is safe from California’s ongoing theft problem simply because it appears lower on the CHP’s official rankings.
