Consumer Car Buying Advice Blog

Overall vehicle thefts dropped for 2008 but California and certain border areas remain hot spots for car thieves.

You and your car

Here at Auto Credit Express, we like to help consumers get financed for their next car. But once you get your car, we would also like to see you hold onto it – and that means helping you avoid getting your vehicle stolen. So we thought you might find the following press release, by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, to be enlightening:

Des Plaines, IL—The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported today that 2008 marked the nation’s fifth consecutive year of declining vehicle thefts in the United States.  Although most areas experienced a reduction in vehicle theft, there were several noteworthy exceptions in states that border Mexico.

The Texas MSAs of El Paso, Laredo and San Antonio along with Las Cruces in New Mexico each saw an increase in 2008.  California ranks number one in total thefts.

NICB’s Hot Spots report examines vehicle theft data obtained from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) for each of the nation’s MSAs.  MSAs are designated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and often include areas much larger than the cities for which they are named.  For example, the Modesto MSA includes the entire county of Stanislaus and other municipalities in addition to the city of Modesto.

The rate is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the 2008 U.S. Census Population Estimates, the most current figures available.

Preliminary 2008 crime data released by the FBI in January indicates that 2008 will post a double-digit decline in vehicle theft when final numbers are released in the fall.  If the preliminary figure of -12.6% holds, it will be the largest single year percent drop in thefts since 1999.

“This is a mixed bag of good news and bad news on the vehicle theft front,” said Joe Wehrle, NICB president and chief executive officer.  “The good news is, we’re seeing steady progress in reducing the overall theft rate and that means Americans aren’t shelling out as much to cover the cost of stolen vehicles in their insurance premiums. We’ve also seen significant decreases in key areas along the border such as San Diego, where thefts dropped nearly 20 percent.

“The bad news is that the theft rate continues to increase in areas like El Paso and Laredo where many of the cars, trucks and SUVs being stolen are being used to carry drugs, money and weapons into and out of Mexico. These vehicle thefts are helping finance the drug cartels that are waging war on the Mexican government.

“NICB has a long history of working with U.S. and Mexican authorities to recover and return stolen vehicles – more than 4,000 last year alone. We strongly support efforts at the federal and state levels to reduce the flow of stolen vehicles across the border.”

NICB recommends the following actions under its “layered approach” to vehicle theft protection:

Common Sense — The common sense approach to protection is the simplest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves.  Secure your vehicle even if parking for brief periods. You should always:

•    Remove your keys from the ignition
•    Lock your doors /close your windows
•    Park in a well-lit area

Warning Device — The second layer of protection is a visible or audible device which alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected.  Popular second layer devices include:

•    Audible alarms
•    Steering column collars
•    Steering wheel/brake pedal lock
•    Brake locks
•    Wheel locks
•    Tire locks/tire deflators
•    Theft deterrent decals
•    Identification markers in or on vehicle
•    VIN etching
•    Micro dot marking

Immobilizing Device — The third layer of protection is a device which prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle.  Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated.  Popular third layer devices include:

•    Smart keys
•    Fuse cut-offs
•    Kill switches
•    Starter, ignition, and fuel pump disablers
•    Wireless ignition authentication

Tracking Device — The final layer of protection is a vehicle tracking device which emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles.  Some systems employ “telematics” which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle.  If the vehicle is moved the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.

Anyone with information concerning vehicle theft and insurance fraud can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422) or by visiting our web site.

The Bottom Line

Common sense can play a big part in not being victimized by amateur auto thieves. But if you own one of the more “popular” models and you live near a “hot spot”, you may want to think about employing one of the more sophisticated electronic devices in order to thwart a professional.

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