Rising Car Part Prices Fuel Increased Car Thefts
10 Apr 2018A recent research study conducted by the National Insurance Crime Bureau reveals that criminals are targeting specific vehicles to strip them of their expensive parts. The bureau explains that technology and the increase in expensive parts has contributed to the increase in car theft.
Vehicles such as the 2016 Toyota Camry, 2016 Nissan Altima and 2016 GMC Sierra pickup truck are often targeted for expensive stand-alone parts.
The bureau highlighted that the most stolen vehicle in 2016, the Toyota Camry, has 15 parts that are worth over $11,000 combined.
The 2016 GMC Sierra pickup has a rear bumper worth more than $1,100 alone. These highly priced replacement parts are commonly taken from the vehicle and sold as stand-alone parts.
The bureau’s Senior Vice President, Jim Schweitzer, explains that the practice of stealing vehicles and dismantling them for parts was already a lucrative endeavor in the past, but today’s cars and trucks are frequently assembled with parts that are worth more than the entire intact car.
FBI statistics indicate that motor vehicle theft increased in the United States last year by over four percent. While many of these stolen cars were recovered, most were stripped of rims, wheels or other expensive parts.
GPS tracking technology can be utilized by car owners to help recover their vehicle in the event they are a victim of car theft. Active GPS tracking for cars can relay your vehicle’s position to law enforcement which can lead them to your vehicle before it’s stripped of its valuable parts.
The police discourage citizens from tracking down their own private property. Toronto Police Officer Sgt. Tm Burrows explains that pursing a stolen vehicle can be just as dangerous as chasing a drunk driver, so don’t take the risk of pursing the criminal yourself. Report the incident, and inform the police about your GPS tracking device.
Do you own one of the top 10 2016 model vehicles stolen listed by the NICB: 2016 Toyota Camry, 2016 Nissan Altima and 2016 GMC Sierra? If so, have you considered getting a GPS tracker?
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