Vehicle Theft is Rising After Years of Decline
Auto theft prevention requires a comprehensive security plan.
- Motor vehicles were stolen every 46 seconds in the U.S. in 2014.
- 700,000 cars, trucks, and motorcycles were stolen.
- Vehicle theft loss estimates at $4.5 Billion per year.
Podcast Time Stamps:
[01:05] — Vehicle theft is a lucrative business for organized crime.
[01:50] — FBI Uniform Crime Reports – 2014 – Statistics about vehicle theft.
[03:10] — Develop an auto theft prevention security plan.
[04:00] — Top ten stolen vehicles. FBI UCR 2014.
[06:15] — Peak vehicle theft year was 1991.
[07:00] — Transponder technology aids police in recovering stolen vehicles.
[08:35] — Most active months for vehicle theft.
[09:15] — High-risk behavior increases auto theft risks.
[11:15] — Highest vehicle theft rate in seaport and Mexican border cities
[13:25] — One-third of vehicles stolen had keys inside.
[15:20] — Vehicle theft arrest rate is low especially in big cities.
[17:05] — Contents of a car is often the reason for it being stolen.
[20:15] — Rule of thumb and security plan for vehicle contents.
[21:10] — Beware of vehicle navigation system programming.
Auto Theft Prevention – Is our Responsibility
- 45% of stolen vehicles are never recovered.
- Only 13% of car thieves are arrested in big cities.
- 33% of auto theft victims left an ignition key in the vehicle.
Play the Video of Chop Shop Underworld
Top Ten States with Most Vehicle Thefts – 2014
- California –151,852
- Texas — 68,546
- Florida — 42,579
- Washington –30,647
- Georgia — 26,854
- Michigan — 21,157
- Ohio — 18,015
- Arizona — 17,587
- Illinois — 17,451
- Missouri — 16,357
Top Ten States with Fewest Vehicle Thefts – 2014
- Vermont — 244
- Wyoming — 603
- Maine — 799
- New Hampshire — 857
- South Dakota — 1,007
- Delaware — 1,267
- North Dakota — 1,514
- Idaho — 1,661
- Alaska — 1,739
- Rhode Island — 1,833
Top Ten Stolen Vehicles – 2014
- Honda Accord
- Honda Civic
- Ford Pick-Up Truck
- Chevy Pick-Up Truck
- Toyota Camry
- Dodge Caravan
- Nissan Altima
- Acura Integra
- Nissan Maxima
Top Auto Theft Months
- July
- August
Nationwide Auto Theft Rate (100,000 population)
- West — 216.2
- South — 210.3
- Midwest — 181.8
- Northeast — 104.3
Vehicle Types Stolen Most Often
- Cars — 74.5%
- Trucks — 14.9%
- Motorcycles & Other 10.6%
Highest Risk Cities for Vehicle Theft in the US – 2014
- San Francisco, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Odessa, TX
- Modesto, CA
- Spokane, WA
- Vallejo, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Fresno, CA
- San Jose, CA
Auto Theft Prevention Tips (most obvious)
- Reside in the lowest crime zip code you can afford.
- Avoid big cities on a seaport or near a border with Mexico.
- Park your vehicle inside a locked private garage.
- Avoid owning a car on the top ten most stolen list.
- Avoid flashy wheels, accessories, and high-performance parts.
- Avoid leaving your car in public parking lots for extended periods.
- Buy good insurance with adequate auto theft coverage.
Auto Theft Prevention (next best options)
- Practice safe car parking and auto theft prevention routines.
- Always roll up windows and lock vehicle doors.
- Remove all ignition keys and hidden valet keys.
- Use fee lots for parking with a cashier or attendant on duty.
- Remove items of value inside the car and in plain sight.
- Lock the car and set a car alarm system every time you park.
- Use mechanical anti-theft devices to deter & delay theft.
- Use a transponder tracking device on high-risk vehicles.
- Remove valuable content and items in plain sight.
- Remove items with home addresses and personal IDs.
Auto Theft Prevention Resources
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports — 2014
- LoJack and OnStar transponder technology
- WikiHow – Best Auto Theft Prevention devices
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