The FBI estimates that a car is stolen every 27 seconds somewhere in the
US. 1999 monthly figures reveal the highest percentage of vehicles was
stolen during July and August, while February and April were lowest. Historically,
the number of thefts is highest in the nation’s most heavily populated
metropolitan areas. FBI statistics show that 1,147,305 autos were stolen
in the US during 1999, a 7.7% decrease from 1998. The estimated value
of vehicle theft exceeded $7 billion in 1999.
Auto thief profiles
The profiles of auto thieves are noteworthy. Some continue to be the small-time hoodlums or “joy riders.” Others are likely to be well-trained, well-seasoned professionals, who are the kingpins of multi-million-dollar operations. In years past, the principal theft problem was created by youths who used stolen vehicles for “joy rides.” According to the FBI, in 1999 there were an estimated 142,200 arrests for motor vehicle thefts. 67% of those arrested were under age 25, and those under 18 comprised 35% of the total.
Theft facts
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), a stolen vehicle will likely resurface in the marketplace. The second time, however, it will most likely be piecemeal, compliments of a “chop shop.” These steal-to-order garages slice and strip stolen vehicles for any unmarked salvageable part that can be resold. It takes skilled cutters only about 30–45 minutes to reduce a car into salable parts.
Fraud also plays a role in the auto theft picture. According to NICB conservative estimates, 10% of vehicle theft reports countrywide are fraudulent. Reports may be filed on cars that never existed or were actually sold or destroyed.
Theft prevention measures
Much is being done to prevent auto theft—new federal standards, stronger door latches, increased use of key combinations, warning buzzers, design changes, better identification and documentation, and other security improvements have contributed.
Law enforcement agencies also have sophisticated “hardware” to aid in the reduction of auto theft. The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) enables police to immediately verify the identification of any vehicle they suspect to be stolen. NCIC is a computerized system, operated by the FBI, serving all law enforcement agencies in the US. The system’s stolen vehicle files allow agencies to immediately enter stolen vehicle reports and to access existing records. The Insurance Services Office (ISO) offers subscribers access to its claims database, which tracks auto theft information from thousands of insurers. Click here for details about ISO’s ClaimSearch system.
| • | New York City | 45,645 |
| • | Los Angeles | 31,298 |
| • | Houston | 17,765 |
| • | Philadelphia | 15,380 |
| • | Austin | 15,262 |