It's that time of year where once again we report on the most stolen used cars the U.S.A. Other sites refer to them as the most stolen cars but we know, unless a car is stolen off a dealer's lot, all stolen cars are used stolen cars.

The report is compiled annually by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, or as I like to call it for simplicity's sake: NICB. Its Hot Wheels report examines vehicle theft data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and determines the vehicle make, model and model year most reported stolen in 2011.

It's a list that changes from year to year, as demonstrated by the 2010 Most Stolen Used Cars list. There is a flipside to this list. It's called the list, also compiled by the NICB.

This list is especially important when shopping for older used cars. Think twice before buying a used car on this list for a child going to college. It could easily end up disappearing from a university parking lot - never to be seen again and stranding your child.

For 2011, the most stolen vehicles in the nation were:

1. 1994 Honda Accord
2. 1998 Honda Civic
3. 2006 Ford Pickup (Full Size)
4. 1991 Toyota Camry
5. 2000 Dodge Caravan
6. 1994 Acura Integra
7. 1999 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)
8. 2004 Dodge Pickup (Full Size)
9. 2002 Ford Explorer
10. 1994 Nissan Sentra

According to NICB, "This report reflects stolen vehicle data reported to NCIC in 2011. No further filtering of information is conducted (i.e., determining the total number of a particular make and model currently registered in the U.S. for comparison purposes). For purposes of this report, full size pickups include half ton and larger capacity models for all makes."

The NICB also said that each year it reviews all NCIC vehicle theft records to produce its national and state lists of the 10 most-stolen vehicles. It said in an announcement, "Hot Wheels is the only report that examines all theft data without regard to a vehicle's insured status - if a vehicle was reported stolen to law enforcement, it is captured in this report."

The top 10 places were evenly split in 2011 with five belonging to foreign brands and five to U.S. automakers. Most popular models among the domestic brands were Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet pickup trucks each holding one spot with the Dodge Caravan and Ford Explorer rounding out the domestic models.

Once again, 2011 is on track to continue the national vehicle theft decline. Preliminary 2011 FBI crime statistics indicate a 3.3 percent reduction from the 737,142 thefts recorded in 2010. Vehicle thefts have not been this low since 1967.

"While overall thefts continue to decline, we are seeing a trend toward increases in the thefts of late model vehicles - ones that are theoretically harder to steal due to sophisticated key code technology," said NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle in a news release.

"Today's vehicle thieves are typically professional criminals who have figured out how to get the key code for a specific vehicle, have a replacement key made, and steal the vehicle within a matter of days. We are aware of nearly 300 thefts that took place in the first three months of this year in which we believe replacement keys using illegally obtained key codes were used to steal the vehicle. We are working closely with our member companies, law enforcement, and the vehicle manufacturers to track these illegal key code transactions and stop the thefts or recover the stolen vehicles before they can be resold here or shipped out of the country to be sold overseas."

The NICB has advice to prevent your used car from becoming the victim of a key code thief (or any used car thief). NICB's four layers of protection are:

• Common Sense: Lock your car and take your keys. It's simple enough, but many thefts occur because owners make it easy for thieves to steal their cars.
• Warning Device: Having and using a visible or audible warning device is another item that can ensure that your car remains where you left it.
• Immobilizing Device: Generally speaking, if your vehicle can't be started, it can't be stolen. "Kill" switches, fuel cut-offs and smart keys are among the devices that are extremely effective.
• Tracking Device: A tracking device emits a signal to the police or to a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ "telematics," which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.