COLUMBUS – Ohio’s auto theft picture improved last year as thefts decreased about 2% from 2002, according to estimates released by the Ohio Insurance Institute (OII).         

 

Based on auto theft survey results of 17 major Ohio city police departments and data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, OII estimates that statewide auto thefts decreased 1.9% between 2002–2003.  This decrease follows an up-tick of 1.3% realized between 2001-2002, which mirrored the US increase of 1.4% for the same period. Prior to 2000, national figures showed an eight-year period of auto theft decreases (1992–1999), followed by a 1.2% increase between 1999-2000, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports.

 

OII’s findings suggest Cincinnati is where you’ll experience the greatest chance of becoming an auto theft statistic in the Buckeye state. In Cincinnati there was one theft for every 52 registered vehicles in the city, a greater chance than its 2002 ratio of one in 59 vehicles. Auto theft-wise, Cincinnati’s ratio isn’t much worse than Dayton’s – 1 in 62 – or Cleveland’s – 1 in 63. In OII’s 2002 auto theft comparison, Cleveland had a ratio of 1 in 58 while Dayton averaged one theft for every 54 registered vehicles – the worst in the state in 2002.

 

Between 2002–2003 auto theft activity in Ohio’s major cities ranged from a decrease of 48.5% in Euclid, to an increase of 37.7% in Canton. Based on survey results, OII estimates statewide auto thefts were 41,943 in 2003. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports shows statewide thefts were 42,767 in 2002 and 42,229 in 2001.

 

The FBI reports that the average value per vehicle stolen in 2002 was $6,701, up from the 2001 figure of $6,646. According to OII calculations, the value of unrecovered vehicles in 2003 exceeded $103.7 million – down from 2002’s tally of $105.7 million. The nation’s vehicle recovery rate improved from 62.2% in 2001 to 63.1% in 2002.

 

Based on OII’s analysis, nine cities reported decreases between 2002–2003 ranging from 3.1% to 48.5%. Of the cities reporting decreases, Euclid had the greatest percentage drop–down 48.5%–reducing thefts from 297 in 2002 to 153 in 2003. Five other cities experienced double-digit decreases in auto theft–Lima (26.7%), Mansfield (16.8%), Dayton (15.3%), Elyria (15.3%) and Akron (12.5%).

 

“Compared to 2002, eight of the 17 cities evaluated showed some degree of theft increases in 2003,” said Daniel J. Kelso, OII president. “Canton and Parma both experienced increases of at least 20% during this period.”

 

Canton showed a 37.7% increase between 2002–2003, the highest percentage increase in the state. Parma (20%), Warren (14.6%) and Cincinnati (12.4%) ranked second through fourth respectively among cities experiencing the highest auto theft percentage increases.

 

An OII comparison of 2003 thefts to vehicle registrations indicates one vehicle stolen for every 288 registered in the state, a slight improvement from the 2002 ratio of 1 in 282 and 2001’s ratio of 1 in 275. Although Lorain showed a slight increase in the number of thefts this year – 3.1% – their ratio of one theft for every 593 registered vehicles remains best in the survey for the second consecutive year (1 in 619 in 2002).

 

“There are ongoing efforts by car manufacturers, law enforcement and the insurance industry to reduce auto theft,” explained Kelso. “Consumers are all too aware of the cost of auto theft and are taking precautionary measures from locking their cars to adding antitheft devices. Many newer makes and models come equipped with antitheft alarm systems and stereo units. Insurers recognize the value of antitheft systems, with some offering auto insurance premium discounts for protective devices.”