(Newswire.net — February 24, 2016) — The good news is property crime rates have taken a turn for the better in many parts of the nation. Burglary has dropped nearly 10 percent since 2014 and larceny theft by more than 3 percent.
The bad news is that a lot of crime is being channeled into car thefts.According to an FBI Uniform Crime Report, the number of stolen car cases rose one percent in the first half of 2015 as compared to the previous year.
Car owners can take comfort in knowing that this particular statistic isn’t nearly as bad as experts predicted it would be.According to Illinois-based National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the previously projected number of crimes pertaining to vehicles was expected to be as much as nine percent in the first two quarters of 2015.
Still, the rising numbers aren’t good for the country’s future projections, particularly since the rates have fallen at a much slower rate over the last decade compared to other crimes. For example, property crimes have dipped about 19 percent over the last 10 years while auto theft only dropped two percent in the same period.
The Reason for this Sudden Increase
It may be surprising to hear that car theft rates are up when so many anti-theft technologies have been utilized to keep thievery at bay. However, the NICB explains that these preventative technologies may be what’s increasing crime rates. Thieves are becoming cleverer as they work to find ways to get around these high-tech devices.
For example, there have been numerous cases of criminals discovering ways to hack rental-fleet securities to steal rental cars. There are also many cases of falsified ownership titles.
Although the crime rates are increasing, it’s worth noting that the increases are minimal, and there is a chance that the trend could reverse in the coming years. The figures published are still a preliminary finding, and could change as more data comes through. We’ll also know more when the figures from the second half of 2015 are revealed.
Worst States for Auto Theft
There are, of course, states with worse auto rates than others. The FBI’s annual report for 2014 calculated the worst states based on the number of incidents per 100,000 residents. Herewere their findings:
The first number represents the total number of thefts and the second number represents the thefts per 100,000 residents.
1. District of Columbia; 3,783 thefts; 574.1
2. Washington; 30,647 thefts; 434.0
3. California; 151,852 thefts; 391.3
4. Nevada; 10,185 thefts; 358.7
5. New Mexico; 6,290 thefts; 301.6
6. Hawaii; 3,879 thefts; 273.3
7. Oklahoma; 10,583 thefts; 272.9
8. Missouri; 16,357 thefts; 269.8
9. South Carolina; 12,902 thefts; 267.0
10. Georgia; 26,854; 266.0
On the flip side, here were the states with the lowest auto-theft rates:
1. Vermont; 244 thefts; 38.9
2. Maine; 799 thefts; 60.1
3. New Hampshire; 857 thefts; 64.6
4. New York; 15,736 thefts; 79.7
5. Virginia; 7,665 thefts; 92.1
6. Idaho; 1,661 thefts; 101.6
7. Pennsylvania; 13,040 thefts; 102.0
8. West Virginia; 1,896 thefts; 102.5
9. Wyoming; 603 thefts; 103.2
10. South Dakota; 1,007 thefts; 118.0
Be Wary of Car Thefts
Based on these statistics, it’s clear that no one is immune to auto theft and associated incidents. Vehicle owners are warned to take some extra precautions to prevent vehicular crimes. Hereare some suggestions.
· Install a remote start so you can warm up or cool down your car without unlocking the doors.
· Install a vehicle tracking device to find your car in the event of a 2 `theft.
· Keep valuables in your vehicle hidden from plain view to deter thefts.
· Park in public, well-lit, security-monitored parking areas.
· Never leave your car unlocked, even in low-crime neighborhoods.
· Keep windows rolled all the way up, even on hot summer days.
· Do not leave a spare key in or near your vehicle.
· Activate an audible alarm system.
Automobile crime rates aren’t expected to decrease any time soon. It’s best to keep an eye on the statistics and take the proper steps to prevent crimes in the future.