US Auto Thefts

The FBI estimates that a car is stolen every 25 seconds somewhere in the US. From 1990 through 2000, the number of US motor vehicle thefts reported decreased from the previous year’s figure. During 2000-2002, vehicle thefts rose in the US. FBI statistics show that 1,246,096 autos were stolen in the US during 2002, a 0.4% increase from 2001’s 1,228,391 thefts. The estimated value of vehicle theft approached $8.4 billion in 2002.

2002 monthly figures reveal the highest percentage of vehicles was stolen during July, while February was lowest. Historically, the number of thefts is highest in the nation’s most heavily populated metropolitan areas.

Auto thief profiles

The profiles of auto thieves are noteworthy. Some continue to be the small-time hoodlums or “joy riders.” Others likely are drug dealers or associated with organized crime. According to the FBI, in 2002 there were an estimated 148,943 arrests for motor vehicle thefts. 63.8% of those arrested were under age 25, and those under 18 comprised 30.4% of the total. 83.5% of those arrested in 2002 were male.

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, Inc. (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.

Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 1991–2002

Two American-made muscle cars top the most-stolen list for classic rides (typically more than 25 years old and driven less than 2,500 miles a year). A Hagerty Insurance (Traverse City MI) three-year study finds the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang to be the nation’s most-stolen collectibles. Corvettes for model years 1966–1982 accounted for 13.3% of stolen collector cars, while Mustangs from 1964–1969 accounted for 6.5% of all thefts.