The world is full of people who have no respect for you or your property. Although crimes of violence have been falling, it’s still dangerous to walk alone at night in some neighborhoods. It’s the same with vehicles. Some were clearly designed with thieves in mind. This can be something red with jaw-dropping acceleration – a vehicle much prized by the young driver who wants a thrill and enjoys racing with local law enforcement officers. Or it can be a high-end vehicle on a list given to professional thieves who either want to export the car or break it for parts. Or it can just be simple to steal and so the easiest way to get home after a night drinking at a local bar. Naturally, the manufacturers of the expensive hardware also spend a lot of money on security. In theory this makes it difficult for the thieves to drive it away. Even if they succeed, there are GPS transmitters to help law enforcement officers track its movements. Many such vehicles are either simply damaged by unsuccessful thieves, or recovered still in one piece
Car theft rates are often tied to ZIP codes. When a town or neighborhood sees an increase in vehicle-related offenses, it’s often a signal of economic and social decline. If funding policies fail to address the causes of this decline, the whole area can rapidly go downhill with all those who can afford it moving out and businesses closing down. A vicious circle then chases the neighborhood down to the bottom. This is one of the reasons why insurers take ZIP codes into account. It’s a fact of life there are more claims from these areas.
This month has seen the release of two reports on vehicle theft rates by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). They give us a picture of theft rates falling nationally as the design of security systems improves, but with the same areas reporting stubbornly high numbers. It seems there’s local pride in being able to steal more vehicles than anywhere else. The HLDI identifies the Cadillac Escalade as the most stolen brand. The NICB decides the winner is the 1994 Honda Accord. The reason for the difference is the way in which the two national bureaus collect their data. The NICB relies on the police to collate all the reports of vehicles stolen, whereas the HLDI relies on claims data supplied by the insurance industry. In theory, the numbers should tally and produce the same winning brand. After all, it’s a requirement of making a claim that the insured should report the vehicle stolen. But not all the vehicles reported stolen are then the subject of an insurance claim – this requires a comprehensive policy and many people now drive with only a liability policy, particularly when the vehicle is older and not expensive to replace. So look at the lists of the most easily stolen vehicles before you buy. When the car insurance quotes come in, you will save money. If you do buy a vehicle easily stolen, fit anti-theft devices and then get a new set of car insurance quotes to see how much you can save.