NCIB’s Holiday Vehicle Theft Report
6 Jan 2015According to the recently released National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) 2013 Annual Holiday Vehicle Theft Report crime doesn’t take a break for the holidays. In fact, New Year’s Day represented the highest number of vehicle thefts for a holiday in 2013 with 2,184 thefts.
The thieves, it seems, weren’t scared straight for Halloween either. It was the second busiest day for thieves with a total of 1,998 thefts. Days at the beach apparently presented ample opportunities too since Memorial Day and Labor Day were also big holidays for car thefts in 2013, making them third and fourth, at 1,972 and 1,915, respectively, for total number of car thefts.
Independence Day, though, came in eighth among holidays however, with 1,750 thefts – just below Christmas Eve, which only had 1,774. Surprisingly enough, New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving, and Christmas day rounded out the bottom of the list at ninth, tenth, and eleventh.
The one day of 2013 that had the highest overall thefts, was August 12 which experienced 2,316 thefts in one day. Christmas Day had the least.
Protecting Your Vehicle from Theft
While holidays do seem to prove tempting for auto thieves, there are things you can do to protect the investment you’ve made in your vehicle. Take these steps to help avoid car theft and aid in the faster recovery of your vehicle if it is stolen.
Invest in GPS Tracking for Your Vehicle
GPS tracking does so much more than help you find your way in unfamiliar areas or to avoid traffic jams. It can also help law enforcement officers find your car quickly in the event that it’s stolen – even on holidays. GPS tracking also serves as a deterrent for many criminals as it’s another obstacle they must overcome or work around.
Park in Well Lit Areas
Most thieves commit crimes of opportunity. Don’t make your car a target by parking in hidden spots or areas where there is little foot or other traffic.
Never Leave Your Car Running in Your Driveway
As winter settles in it’s tempting to leave your car running in the morning while waiting for it to warm up. Even if you have your doors locked and windows up, it’s a simple thing for thieves to break a window and drive off in an instant. Don’t allow them the opportunity.
Lock Your Doors
Many times, it’s as simple as that. Car thieves rely on the ability to quickly get in and drive off with stolen cars. Every obstacle that slows them down improves the odds that they’ll move along to more convenient targets.
Don’t let car thieves put the humbug in your holidays. Take preventative action instead with the tips above and get your New Year started off right.
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