HOT SPOTS FOR CAR THEFTS

NATIONAL INSURANCE CRIME BUREAU RELEASES THE LATEST “HOT SPOTS” VEHICLE THEFT REPORT

Tips for Drivers on How to Keep Your Wheels from Becoming Hot this Summer – Peak Season for Vehicle Theft from ROGER MORRIS, Vice President, Chief Communications Officer, National Insurance Crime Bureau

It’s no surprise that summer is a peak season for car thefts. With the weather heating up, people are leaving their windows down or the engine running to keep their cars cool, making them easy targets for thieves. After years of decline, vehicle thefts have begun to increase over the last few years. In fact, the total value of vehicle thefts in the U.S. is about $5 billion a year – more than the roughly $4 billion payroll for all of Major League Baseball. For the years 2013 through 2015, a total of 147,434 were reported stolen with the keys left in the vehicle.

Did You Know?
· A vehicle is stolen every 45 seconds in the U.S.
· Thieves like warm weather. June through September are busy months.
· The day of the year with the most thefts reported in 2016 was August 1 with 2,937
· Most stolen cars are not insured for theft..the owner has chosen to drop coverage
· The average value of a stolen car is about $7,000
· Many are stolen with the keys left in the car and the trend is increasing.Anti-theft technology has greatly reduced thefts, but new technology makes some cars susceptible to hacks