According to an article in the Associated Press, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has made another top ten list - that of the most popular stolen cars...

Car thieves continue to like Honda and Toyota cars, but are also partial to domestic light trucks, according to a survey released today.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau said the Honda Accord was the most stolen vehicle nationwide in 1997. It's followed by the Toyota Camry, Oldsmobile Cutlass, Honda Civic and Ford Mustang.

Other vehicles that rank in the top 10 include the Chevrolet C/K pickup, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ford F-series pickup.

The list is based on 447,007 stolen vehicle reports submitted to the nonprofit bureau by its member insurance companies nationwide. The figure represents 32 percent of all vehicles reported stolen last year.

Lists of most-stolen vehicles usually lag sales trends by several years. As a popular model ages and demand for its parts rises, it moves up on the theft lists. The high ranking of the Olds Cutlass, for example, reflects the car's immense popularity in the mid-1980s.

``Vehicle thieves are not trendsetters,'' said Ed Sparkman, senior vehicle theft manager for the bureau. ``They usually go for the most popular vehicles because they provide the best market for stolen auto parts.''

Buying habits in different parts of the country also are reflected in theft trends. American vehicles are the top targets of thieves in Detroit and Chicago, pickups are most popular in Houston, and Japanese cars lead the list in Los Angeles.