Incidents of auto theft surged in 2020
Early indicators point to 2020 becoming the biggest year for stolen cars in the past decade by a 'significant margin,' the NICB president & CEO said.
As with hurricanes, wildfires and other catastrophes in 2020, auto thefts became more frequent and severe this past year, according to a preliminary analysis from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). The increase ended a two-year downward trend for stolen vehicles.
While not every driver will experience a stolen car, they will all pay for the crime through higher insurance rates, NICB reported, as around one-fourth of a typical comprehensive auto insurance premium goes to pay for auto theft claims.
During the past year, more than 873,000 auto thefts occurred in the U.S., a 9.2% year-on-year increase, according to the NICB. The bureau noted this represents around 73,000 additional thefts compared with 2019.
Early indicators suggest that 2020 will be the largest year for stolen cars in the past decade, according to NICB President & CEO David Glawe.
“Based on the preliminary nature of the data, the cause of this increase will require a thorough intelligence assessment,” Glawe said in a release. “Considerations such as the pandemic, economic downturn, loss of juvenile outreach programs and public safety budgetary and resource limitations are likely contributing factors. Thieves exploit opportunities and may look for vehicles parked in the same location or citizens not taking proper measures to secure their vehicles.”
NICB reported it is releasing these early findings in advance of its annual Hot Spots report, which is due out in mid-2021, due to the unique circumstances of 2020.
Tips for preventing theft
To lower the chances of auto theft, NICB recommends the following:
- Common sense: Remember to remove keys from the ignition, close windows and lock doors.
- Warning device: Let thieves know your car is protected with an audible alarm or visible warnings such as a steering wheel column lock or theft-deterrent decals.
- Immobilizing devices: Examples include smart keys, fuse cut-offs, kill switches and starter, ignition or fuel pump disablers.
- Tracking device: GPS and wireless technologies allow for remote monitoring of vehicles. If a car is stolen, the owner can be altered and track the vehicle on a computer.
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