Auto theft: a global problem
By: Drivers.com staff
Date: 2000-06-22
While insurance claims in Western Australia for attempted car theft and the theft of car parts have increased in the past year, claims for stolen cars have actually fallen.
This continuing trend probably mirrors car theft statistics in other parts of the world, and, according to Western Australia's Royal Automobile Club , suggests that improved vehicle security and heightened community awareness have made it more difficult for thieves to steal cars. The result is an increase in the incidence of attempted theft or theft of parts.
The RAC is Western Australia's leading motorist advocacy organization. As might be inferred, the number of theft claims recorded by RAC Insurance in 1998/99 show that older cars are more likely to be successfully stolen than newer cars. For example, cars manufactured before 1985 are three times more likely to be stolen than cars manufactured since 1995. On the other hand, attempted theft is more common among newer cars, being twice as likely to occur for cars manufactured after 1995 than for cars manufactured before 1985.
"It is likely that this changing theft pattern is a result of design and security improvements to newer cars," the RAC says.
While nearly 90 per cent of stolen cars are recovered, most are damaged. In 1998/99, RAC Insurance policyholders made claims amounting to over $8 million as a result of car theft.
"With all insurance companies, the cost of theft affects the premiums paid by its policyholders and it is estimated that the elimination of car theft could reduce the cost of RAC motor vehicle policies by around $40," the RAC adds.
The statistics also reveal that car thieves like to work at night and are late to rise in the morning. The likelihood of a car being broken into or stolen increases generally from 12 noon onwards. Car theft reports peak around 11 - 12 noon, 4 - 5 p.m., 7 - 8 p.m. and 10 - 11 p.m. However, these times may also indicate when car owners become aware their car is damaged or stolen.
In the past five years, RAC theft data show that the majority of cars have been broken into or stolen while at a residence or in the street. Thirty per cent of car thefts occurred in car parks, with the largest proportion occurring in shopping center and supermarket car parks.
Around 17,000 cars-more than 350 a week-are stolen, or subject to attempted theft, in Western Australia each year. To combat this problem, the state government introduced a law last year to reduce the incidence of car theft. It is now compulsory to fit an approved immobilizer when you buy a new or used car. These devices disengage the engine after a short period, forcing the car (and the thief) to stop. If the immobilizer is government-approved and fitted by an authorized installer, the government provides a $40 rebate to offset installation costs.
Many insurance companies also provide discounts on insurance premiums when an immobilizer that qualifies for the government rebate scheme is fitted.
Halfway across the world-in Ontario, Canada-the provincial government has just introduced a system of "branding" for wrecked or stolen vehicles to help curb Canada's $600 million a year car theft industry.
The aim is to ensure that vehicle identification numbers from a wreck aren't transferred to stolen vehicles. "This initiative will make vehicle branding mandatory, countering auto fraud and theft activities and providing consumers with the information they need on a used vehicle's history," says Transport Minister David Turnbull.
Branding discourages fraud by requiring that the status of a vehicle be recorded on registration documents and other forms such as vehicle abstracts and used vehicle information packages. Vehicles that are branded "irreparable," for example, can never be put back on the road, making their identification numbers useless to car thieves.
Here are some simple steps to help drivers protect their cars:
- Have an approved immobilizer fitted.
- Use and activate anti-theft devices.
- Park your car off the street, preferably in your yard or in a locked garage.
- If you need to park in the street at night, ensure you park in a well-lit area.
- Do not leave your keys in the ignition.
- Don't leave valuable items in your car to entice a thief.
- Spare keys should never be hidden on a vehicle.
- Remove cheque books, credit cards, driver's license, and registration papers from your glove box.
- Always close all windows and lock all doors before leaving your car.
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