NCJ Number
51580
Date Published
1974
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THE PREVENTION OF AUTOMOBILE AND MOTORCYCLE THEFT IS DESCRIBED IN THIS AUDIO CASSETTE AND FILMSTRIP PRESENTATION.
Abstract
AUTOMOBILE THEFT IS AMONG THE MOST COMMON CRIMES IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH OVER ONE MILLION INSTANCES OF GRAND THEFT VEHICLE OCCURRING EACH YEAR. BECAUSE AN AUTOMOBILE IS OFTEN A PERSON'S MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION, CITIZENS SHOULD BE AWARE OF HOW TO PROTECT THEIR CARS. BECAUSE HALF OF THE CARS STOLEN HAVE THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION AT THE TIME OF THE THEFT, MERELY BY LOCKING THE CAR AND TAKING THE KEY, A CAR OWNER CAN PREVENT CASUAL THIEVES FROM STEALING THE CAR OR LOOTING ITS CONTENTS. VEHICLE REGISTRATION PAPERS SHOULD BE KEPT SECURE IN A LOCKED GLOVED COMPARTMENT. CARS SHOULD BE PARKED IN A LIGHTED AREA IF DRIVEN AT NIGHT, AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OR GARAGE WHEN KEPT AT THE OWNER'S HOME. THE OWNER OUGHT TO KEEP A SEPARATE RECORD OF THE CAR'S LICENSE NUMBER AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN), WHICH THE POLICE CAN USE TO RECOVER OR TRACE A STOLEN CAR. JOYRIDERS ARE 150 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT THAN IS THE CAROWNER, BUT SIMPLE SECURITY MEASURES CAN USUALLY DETER SUCH CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY. PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS CAN USUALLY STEAL ANY CAR, BUT THEIR RESALE OF STOLEN CARS CAN BE PREVENTED BY HAVING CONSUMERS DEAL ONLY WITH REPUTABLE SALESMEN OF CARS AND PARTS. MOTORCYCLES CAN BE EFFECTIVELY SECURED WITH HARDENED CHAINS AND LOCKS. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)