Deterrents Still Useful : To Stop an Auto Thief: Truth Is, You Can’t
Burglar alarms can wail until doomsday, anti-theft devices can choke an engine and drivers can scout for the safest parking spots, but nothing will stop a thief who really wants to steal a car.
“A good thief is going to get it,” said Lt. Robert Morgan of the New York City Auto Crime Division.
Kevin McGivern, who can legally steal cars, agrees. “If you’re not worried about the damage you do, you can take any car,” said McGivern, president of Equitable Services of Chicago, one of the nation’s largest repossession companies.
None of this, however, means that car owners should forgo alarms and other anti-theft devices. As the New York Police Department says in its consumer booklet on car theft: “As selfish as it may sound, if a thief wants a car . . . let it be someone else’s.”
Such steps can also reduce insurance premiums. Alarms and anti-theft devices can reduce comprehensive coverage 5% to 10% at most insurance companies, said Philip McCarthy of Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
Auto theft is out of control, according to police and insurance investigators. What was once the territory of teen-age joy riders has become a full-scale industry of professional thieves who steal cars, cut them up and sell the parts.
One in 50 registered vehicles in the United States is stolen or broken into each year, according to the National Automobile Theft Bureau, a private group affiliated with the insurance industry.
More than 1 million vehicles have been stolen in each of the last seven years, at a cost of about $5 billion a year, the bureau said.
Leads in Thefts
Massachusetts has the dubious distinction of having the most auto thefts in relation to population, followed by Michigan and California. In sheer numbers, California, the drive-happy state, is the auto theft leader, followed by New York, Texas and Massachusetts.
In the old days, about 90% of stolen vehicles were recovered, primarily because joy riders abandoned them. Today, recovery is less than 60%. Two people with torches can dismantle a stolen car in 45 minutes.
“Auto theft is the second biggest moneymaker for organized crime, second only to drugs,” said John Eanniello, a New York auto crime detective.
Added Morgan, “We can’t eliminate auto thefts. Whenever you build a better mousetrap, someone always finds a better one to beat you. You realize how much of an industry it is. It will not go away. There is too much money involved.”
Sports Cars Are Target
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year released a list showing that sporty and luxury cars were the top targets for theft. Atop the list of 130 cars, compiled from 1983-84 statistics, was
the Buick Riviera, stolen at a rate of 16 per 1,000 cars.
Following were the Toyota Celica Supra, Cadillac Eldorado, Chevrolet Corvette, Pontiac Firebird, Chevrolet Camaro, Mazda RX-7, Porsche 911, Oldsmobile Tornado and Pontiac Grand Prix.
Fourteen of the top 20 cars came from the General Motors Corp., but that doesn’t mean that the cars are easier to steal than others.
“Yes, General Motors cars are being ripped off more, but they’re the most popular,” said Eanniello. “Mercedes, which has some of the best anti-theft devices, it’s way up on the list, too.”
Exceptions Noted
In most cases, theft figures for individual models are not figured into insurance rates. There are exceptions--the Corvette being a notable one.
“It would have to be a substantial difference in the theft rate (to increase insurance premiums),” said G. Robert Mecherle of the State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. “Corvettes are very popular and they have a high theft rate.
“Theft is a function of geography too,” he said. Five cities--New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and Houston--account for about one-quarter of the nation’s total thefts. And in high theft areas, insurance costs are generally higher.
But some precautions can reduce the chances of your car becoming part of the statistics.
42% Leave Keys
Philip McCarthy of Liberty Mutual’s auto claims division said the first rule is never leave keys in the car. It’s an exceedingly simple rule, yet 42% of all stolen cars have keys left in the ignition, according to national statistics cited by New York City police.
McCarthy said car owners should hide valuables; park in well-lighted or populated places; avoid leaving keys with parking attendants; install alarms or other anti-theft devices; use a garage if possible, and never leave a car unattended with the engine running.
New York City police offer additional precautions: Remove the registration from the glove compartment; avoid end-of-block parking, where cars can be towed away most easily; leave the steering column locked with the wheels cut sharply to the side; avoid parking in the same area each day, and avoid using license plate key rings that come from charitable organizations. Lost keys can lead directly to parked cars.
Car manufacturers could make cars harder to steal, but that would also make it harder for owners and mechanics.
“Ford made a lock that was very difficult to bypass,” said repossessor McGivern. “They made it so hard to steal, it made it just as hard to repair it. If you build something, you’ve got to be able to take it out and repair it. And if you lose your key, you’ve got real problems.”
But even with all the anti-theft devices available, a determined thief is going to win. “There’s nothing you’re going to do to make that car stop,” McGivern said.
