Auto Thefts Rise for First Time Since ‘90, Study Says
Auto theft is on the rise for the first time in a decade, and Japanese imports are at the top of the Southern California theft list, according to a study released Tuesday by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Some 1.16 million cars were stolen in 2000--roughly 13,500 more than in 1999, according to FBI crime statistics. That accounts for a 1.2% rise in the total number of auto thefts nationwide--the first increase in auto thefts since 1990.
The per-capita rate of thefts--which represents the rough probability of having your car stolen--is at an all-time low. About 414 cars per 100,000 residents were stolen in 2000--which is one theft for every 241 people. That’s down 37% from 1990, when car thefts peaked.
But experts believe the trend is now going in the wrong direction, putting cars at greater risk.
“We predict that auto theft will continue to rise because of a variety of factors, including the economy,” said Mike Erwin, spokesman for the insurance crime bureau in Arlington, Va.
When you go into a recession, auto theft historically rises, Erwin added. That’s mainly because consumers hold on to their cars longer, which creates a brisk business for replacement parts. Organized theft rings also export stolen parts to other countries.
Law enforcement also is giving less attention to auto theft, Erwin said. In the past, several states funded task forces that concentrated solely on tracking down auto thieves. But with the recession tightening state budgets, many of these task forces are being dismantled, he said.
Consumer carelessness also plays a role, said Courtney Neville, a spokeswoman for Progressive Insurance in Mayfield Village, Ohio. Progressive recently completed a survey of what consumers do to protect their cars from theft. The answer: virtually nothing.
About 55% of the 567 people surveyed said they leave their car doors unlocked, 34% leave windows open, and 6% leave their keys in the car when the vehicle is unattended, the survey said. Less than 1% of those surveyed have ever called the police to report an activated car alarm.
Nonetheless, 61% of those surveyed said they know someone whose car has been stolen and 11% said their own vehicle was swiped, the Progressive study said.
Certain cars are far more likely to be taken than others, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
The nation’s most frequently stolen car is the Toyota Camry, with 41,435 taken in 2000 alone. The Honda Accord is a close second, with 40,269 thefts. The Oldsmobile Cutlass comes in a distant third, accounting for 28,043 vehicle thefts, Erwin said.
These three were also the most frequently stolen cars in 1999. And several of the remaining Top 10 cars for auto thieves--specifically the Honda Civic, the Jeep Cherokee, Chevrolet full-size pickup, Ford Taurus and Chevrolet Caprice--are also perennial favorites.
However, the most stolen cars vary greatly by region, according to the NICB.
The most stolen cars in St. Louis are nearly all American made--the Oldsmobile Cutlass and Delta 88; the Buick LeSabre and Century and Chevrolet Caprice, Cavalier and Celebrity models.
In New Mexico, pickup trucks are at greatest risk, while Dodge Caravans need to be closely monitored in New York and New Jersey.
To consumers, the car theft list has a practical application. Cars that are most likely to be taken are often more costly to insure, said Tom Kaschalk, a manager in Progressive Insurance’s Special Investigative Unit.
“We are not telling people not to buy these cars,” Erwin added. “We are just telling people that you need to take as many precautions as possible to protect them.”
Those precautions range from simple steps, such as locking doors and windows, to costly moves, including buying car alarms, kill switches and vehicle location devices that can set drivers back $150 or more.
However, the simplest solutions may be the best, Neville said.
“A lot of our tips are just common sense,” she said. “Lock the doors. Take your keys. The [auto club] found that one in every five cars that were stolen had the keys in them.”
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Dubious Distinction
The 10 most commonly stolen vehicles:
Number stolen Make/model (in 2000) 1. Toyota Camry 41,435 2. Honda Accord 40,269 3. Oldsmobile Cutlass 28,043 4. Honda Civic 25,491 5. Jeep Cherokee 19,698 6. Chevrolet C/K pickup 17,322 7. Toyota Corolla 16,159 8. Chevrolet Caprice 15,692 9. Ford Taurus 15,440 10. Ford F-150 pickup 13,713
Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau
