PRESS RELEASE

CCC Info Services Announces 1996's Most Frequently Stolen Cars

29 January 1997

     CCC Information Services Releases 1996's Most Stolen Vehicles Report

    CHICAGO, Jan. 27 -- For the first time in four years, the
Oldsmobile Cutlass was edged out as the year's most stolen vehicle, according
to CCC Information Service's annual study.  In 1996, that dubious distinction
goes to the Honda Accord, sweeping the top three spots with Accords from model
years 1994, 1988 and 1992.  In fact, the Honda Accord was so popular with
thieves last year, it held eight additional spots among the top 25 most stolen
vehicles.
    Only two model years of the Oldsmobile Cutlass, 1987 and 1986, were
included among the top ten in 1996.  Rounding out the top spots were the 1995
Ford Mustang and 1989 Toyota Camry, which took the fifth and ninth spots
respectively.
    The "market" for stolen cars evolves to meet demand, just as all markets
do," said Bill Geen, senior vice president with CCC.  "It is interesting that
for the first time in several years a foreign car maker has taken the top
three positions.  This tells me that thieves don't steal vehicles based upon
how simple or hard it is to take them; rather, they determine how easy it may
be to sell them on the black market."
    The frequency levels of theft across the states remained virtually the
same as 1995.  California had the highest total number of vehicle thefts,
followed by New York, Florida, Michigan, Texas, and Illinois.  Not
surprisingly, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Vermont had the
lowest tallies of stolen vehicles.
    As in past years, the study identified some interesting regional
differences.  For example, New York's top ten list featured Japanese cars
exclusively, just as it had in 1995.  But California showed a major shift,
from a predominantly American list in 1995 to a 1996 Top 10 list with nine
places held by Japanese cars.
    In the midwestern states, American cars are most in demand.  Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri and Nebraska sported
all American makes in their top tens; Iowa wasn't far behind, with American
models ranked in seven of the top ten slots.
    Trucks have become an increasingly "hot" item, particularly in Texas.  The
top ten list of stolen vehicles in that state is exclusively trucks.  Other
areas with a penchant for these hard-working vehicles are Alabama, Arizona,
Idaho, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Wyoming -- each with trucks comprising more
than half of the top ten spots.  And, once again this year, Chevy ruled this
category, with the majority of listings among the truck-popular states.
    The CCC study identifies the 100 most frequently stolen vehicles over the
past year and is based on an analysis of CCC's 1996 total loss valuations.  In
1996, CCC valued thousands of vehicles each day for leading property/casualty
insurers in the U.S. and Canada.  These vehicles, lost through theft or
collision, represent the vast majority of the nation's total loss valuations.
    CCC Information Services, headquartered in Chicago, Ill. is the collision
repair industry's leading supplier of advanced software and communication
systems.  Its value-added, technology-based products and services increase
efficiency and facilitate communication among more than 9,800 collision repair
facilities, 350 insurance companies and a range of business partners.

    NOTE:  A listing of the 25 most frequently stolen vehicles follows.  For
more information, or to schedule an interview with CCC, please contact Pamela
Flores or Peter Duckler at HLB Communications, 312-649-0371.

                          Most Stolen Vehicle Report
                                   For 1996
                  (Source:  CCC Information Services, Inc.)

                 RANK     YEAR     MAKE           MODEL-NAME

                  1        94      Honda          Accord EX
                     2        88      Honda          Accord LX
                     3        92      Honda          Accord LX
                     4        87      Oldsmobile     Cutlass Supreme
                     5        95      Ford           Mustang
                     6        86      Oldsmobile     Cutlass Supreme
                     7        95      Honda          Accord EX
                     8        90      Honda          Accord EX
                     9        89      Toyota         Camry
                    10        92      Honda          Accord EX
                    11        89      Honda          Accord EX
                    12        91      Honda          Accord EX
                    13        91      Honda          Accord EX
                    14        84      Oldsmobile     Cutlass Supreme
                    15        95      Toyota         Corolla
                    16        87      Chevrolet      Caprice
                    17        86      Cadillac       DeVille
                    18        85      Oldsmobile     Cutlass Supreme
                    19        90      Toyota         Camry
                    20        88      Toyota         Camry
                    21        91      Acura          Legend
                    22        95      Toyota         Camry LE
                    23        91      Honda          Civic
                    24        94      Honda          Accord LX
                    25        90      Honda          Accord LX

SOURCE CCC Information Services