Auto Theft Rises for First Time in 10 Years

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 11, 2001 /PRNewswire/ -- After a ten-year decline in auto theft rates, newly released statistics indicate auto theft is on the rise in the United States. The rates are included in an annual study released today by the NICB.

New FBI data show auto theft rates increased 1.2 percent from 1999 to 2000, there were 1,165,559 auto thefts in '00, compared to 1,152,057 in '99. NICB uses FBI data to compile its annual study of theft rates and most commonly stolen vehicles.

"The troubling 2000 statistics indicate we need to commit more resources to address this problem and help prevent this increase from becoming a trend," stated Robert M. Bryant, NICB president and chief executive officer. Bryant suggested a variety of contributory factors behind the rise, including a sinking U.S. economy that spurs more thieves to steal vehicles for financial gain, the reassignment of many law enforcement officers from auto theft task forces, and open international borders that are difficult to monitor for stolen vehicles.

Today's report identifies the ten most commonly stolen vehicles in the U.S. in 2000:

1. Toyota Camry
2. Honda Accord
3. Oldsmobile Cutlass
4. Honda Civic
5. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
6. Chevrolet full size C/K pick-up
7. Toyota Corolla
8. Chevrolet Caprice
9. Ford Taurus
10. Ford F150 pick-up

"The study confirms that thieves target a wide range of popular passenger vehicle models," said Bryant. Further, these vehicles are popular in other countries and organized theft rings will illegally export them to foreign destinations." Bryant also recommended that people residing in or near port and border communities take special care to protect their vehicles because of the relatively easy access border crossings and ports provide to vehicle thieves.