Last week we shared the National Insurance Crime Bureau's "Hot Spots" theft report which indicates that auto theft continues to skyrocket nationwide, with Colorado experiencing the most vehicle thefts, followed by Washington, D.C. and California. This week we have even more analysis from the NICB on the rise of vehicle and catalytic converter thefts along with carjackings since the start of the pandemic.
The NICB, the insurance industry's association dedicated to predicting, preventing, and prosecuting insurance crime, says nearly half a million vehicles were stolen in the first half of 2022 (as of June 30th.) Put a dollar amount on it and researchers say those thefts equate to an estimated $4.5 billion worth of vehicle losses from thefts. It's also a 25% increase over the thefts reported in the first half of 2019.
All this and the year's not over yet. The NICB estimates 100,000 more vehicles will have been stolen by the end of 2022 in comparison to pre-pandemic totals.
According to NICB, the U.S. is seeing the highest vehicle theft numbers since 2008. Some cities with the largest increases between the first half of 2019 and the first half of 2022 include:
Separately, catalytic converter thefts are up1,215% nationwide since 2019, and carjackings have climbed an alarming 160% to over 500% in some major cities since 2019.
“To stop this lawlessness, we must focus our attention on these criminals and take back our streets,” Glawe said. “We must re-invest in our law enforcement.”
Earlier this year, Glawe testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee and offered six policy recommendations to help address the staggering crime statistics:
The NICB says President Biden recently adopted many of its recommendations by way of Executive Order,
If you're looking for ways to prevent car theft, the NICB has some tips to consider:
If your vehicle is stolen, the NICB says you should call law enforcement, along with your insurer right away. If you report a theft immediately, the vehicle is most likely to be recovered.