NICB Releases Annual Holiday Theft Report for 2016

17 Jan 2018

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) recently released its annual report of holiday automobile thefts that occurred in 2016. The report included 11 major holidays:

New Year’s Day
Valentine’s Day
President’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve

That’s not all the report reveals. It also reports on the daily rates of theft for each month, and rates the highest and lowest occurrences of vehicle thefts for 2016.

One interesting note is that this report reveals the five states with the biggest vehicle theft problem. They are:

California
Texas
Florida
Washington
Georgia

One surprising bit of information is that while there is typically an uptick around the holidays, there are three holidays where vehicle theft trends down: Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Looks like quality time with significant others and time spent with family does help to deter crime.

In fact, Christmas Day had the fewest incidents of car theft of any day in 2016, reporting only 1,664 thefts that day compared to a daily average for the year of 2,196. It appears that thieves aren’t overly fond of frigid temperatures as the remaining two lowest days of the year with thefts reports were March 27, 2016 when thieves absconded with 1,746 vehicles and February 28, 2016 when 1,759 cars were stolen.

Halloween was the biggest holiday for car theft, which makes sense as many people choose this night to go joyriding as pranks. It was not, however, the biggest day of the year for car thefts. That prize goes to August 1, 2016 when 2,840 cars were reported stolen. The second and third highest vehicle theft days go to October 17, 2016 with 2,650 vehicles reported stolen and July 1, 2016 when 2,671 vehicles were reported stolen.

While it’s good to know which holidays and times of year vehicle thefts tend to be on the rise, it’s important to be diligent daily and defend your vehicles. If your vehicle is stolen, using GPS car tracking can help you locate it quickly.

Don’t leave your running car unattended – a common occurrence in winter when people warm vehicles before venturing outside.
Park in your garage when possible. Out of sight is out of mind.
Install GPS tracking in your vehicle to assist with a swift recovery if it is stolen.

Small changes in your routine, like these, can help you protect your investment in your vehicle.

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.