Vehicle Theft
Vehicle theft is the most expensive property crime in America with an estimated cost of over $7.6 billion annually. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has compiled statistics on the most commonly stolen vehicles in the United States as well as the most commonly stolen vehicles in major metropolitan areas such as Atlanta. You might be surprised by what they found:
| Top 10 Vehicles Stolen In The U.S. | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Honda Accord |
| 2. | Oldsmobile Cutlass |
| 3. | Toyota Camry |
| 4. | Honda Civic |
| 5. | Ford Mustang |
| 6. | Chevy Full Size Pickup |
| 7. | Toyota Corolla |
| 8. | Cadillac deVille |
| 9. | Chevy Caprice |
| 10. | Jeep Cherokee |
| Top 10 Vehicles Stolen In Atlanta | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Oldsmobile Cutlass |
| 2. | Chevy Caprice |
| 3. | Honda Accord |
| 4. | Cadillac deVille |
| 5. | Jeep Cherokee |
| 6. | Chevy Full Size Pickup |
| 7. | Buick LeSabre |
| 8. | Oldsmobile Delta 88 |
| 9. | Buick Regal |
| 10. | Toyota Camry |
During 1998 there were 11 vehicles stolen from the UGA campus. In no particular order they were:
| Vehicles Stolen at The University of Georgia |
|---|
| 1990 Nissan Pathfinder |
| 1990 Honda Accord |
| 1990 Nissan Stanza |
| 1991 Honda Accord |
| 1992 Chevy Corsica |
| 1993 Mitsubishi Diamante |
| 1991 Chevy C1500 Pickup |
| 1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 |
| 1984 Chevy Caprice |
| 1998 Toyota Tacoma |
| 1994 Chevy Z71 Pickup |
The most surprising thing about these lists is the conspicuous absence of expensive luxury models. Auto theft is often a crime of opportunity. Thieves looking to strip a car for parts generally steal cars which have the greatest market for parts. These are generally older cars or cars which are most popular with American consumers, not brand new expensive automobiles. Kids looking to go for a joyride or petty thieves looking for stereo equipment are not necessarily looking for the nicest car in the lot. More often than not, they are looking for the easiest car to steal. DON'T MAKE THEIR JOB EASY!
Tips For Protecting Your Vehicle From Theft
- Do not leave your keys in your car or leave your car running while unattended, not even for a few seconds. What could be easier for a thief than to slip behind the wheel of your idling vehicle and drive away.
- Leave doors locked and windows rolled up at all times. Getting into the car is half the battle. Don't allow the thief free admission.
- Park in well lit well traveled areas. Although it may only take a thief a few seconds to steal your car, he would prefer not to be seen while doing it.
- Keep valuables and packages out of sight. These may draw the thief's attention to your vehicle. Once inside, the thief may decide to steal your car as well as your valuables.
- Use deterrent devices like car alarms, steering wheel locks (club type), electronic kill switches or other devices on the market. Although none of these devices are foolproof, they will make your car a more difficult target.