NCJ Number
49632
Journal
CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 24-30
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A HISTORY OF THE PROBLEM OF VEHICLE THEFT IS TRACED, ITS FREQUENCY AND COST ARE COMPARED WITH OTHER MAJOR CRIMES, CLEARANCE AND RETURN RATES ARE INDICATED, AND SUGGESTIONS TO THWART VEHICLE THEFT ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
A GRAPH IS PROVIDED TO SHOW THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF AUTO THEFTS IN THE UNITED STATES FROM 1945 TO 1976. VEHICLES ARE REPORTED STOLEN AT THE RATE OF APPROXIMATELY ONE EVERY HALF MINUTE, INDICATING THAT VEHICLE THEFT IS ONE OF THE MOST SEVERE CRIME PROBLEMS FACING LAW ENFORCEMENT AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. THE HISTORY OF ATTEMPTS TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM IS TRACED IN LEGISLATION AND THE ACTIVITIES OF INSURANCE COMPANIES AND THE PATTERNS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. EFFORTS TO DATE HAVE BEEN LARGELY INEFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF THE OFFENSE. NATIONALLY, A RECOVERY RATE OF 85 PERCENT IS REPORTED, WHILE CALIFORNIA, WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST THEFT RATES OF THE STATES, HAS A RECOVERY RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 90 PERCENT. IT IS CAUTIONED, HOWEVER, THAT THESE HIGH RATES OF RECOVERY SAY NOTHING ABOUT THE USABLE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN FOUND. VEHICLES UNACCOUNTED FOR ARE PROBABLY DISPOSED OF IN ONE OF FOUR WAYS: REPORTING OF THE LOSS OF A NONEXISTENT VEHICLE TO OBTAIN INSURANCE MONEY; THE TAKING OF SEEMINGLY ABANDONED VEHICLES TO BE SOLD FOR SCRAP; THE SELLING OF STOLEN VEHICLES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES; AND THE CHANGING OF IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS AND VEHICLE COLOR FOR SALE TO UNSUSPECTING PURCHASERS, USING FICTITIOUS OWNERSHIP TITLES. PARKING THE VEHICLE IN A GARAGE AND LOCKING IT ARE THE MOST OBVIOUS WAYS TO HELP PREVENT THEFT. A VEHICLE SHOULD NEVER BE PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL UNLESS HE IS KNOWN TO THE PURCHASER. ADVICE IS ALSO GIVEN TO SELLERS OF VEHICLES ABOUT RECEIVING PAYMENT SO AS TO AVOID THEFT THROUGH FRAUDULENT PURCHASING. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)