Key Takeaways

• A lot of car-theft cases are a product of vehicle owners' carelessness and lax attitude towards the security of their vehicles. Vehicle owners often leave their vehicles in a state where it is easily accessible by anyone.
• High crime rates (murders, rape, robbery, burglary, etc.) are often preceded by vehicle theft. The stolen vehicle is used for perpetrating the crime and fleeing the scene.
• High rates of poverty and high cases of drug abuse also translate to high vehicle theft rates. The income disparity and drug-induced lack of judgment causes people to turn towards stealing vehicles and a life of crime.
• The recent COVID-19 pandemic has made vehicle theft rates worse for many cities. Since people were not driving very frequently during the pandemic, they were also less likely to find out if the theft had been committed.

Introduction

Common Causes of High Vehicle Theft Rates

• One of the most common reasons for high vehicle theft rates in Metropolitan areas is carelessness by the vehicle owners.
• Many times, vehicle owners leave their vehicles running due to various reasons. However, this provides the thieves with easy access to the vehicle and they drive away successfully.
• Also, many vehicles have lax security when parked in residential spaces like garages or commercial zones like parking lots. These are easy targets for thieves.
• The recent pandemic had also created a safe space for vehicle thieves, as people were driving less and police had their manpower spread thin.
• Since people were driving less during the pandemic, they interacted less with their vehicles. Therefore, they were less likely to notice their vehicles being stolen.
• The priorities of the police also shifted during the pandemic and they took a reactive stance to the property thefts during the pandemic.
• The unemployment spike during the pandemic also left many people struggling. Some of them took to stealing vehicles, and using the stolen vehicles for perpetrating other crimes like burglary and robbery.
• People are also stealing vehicles to collect their "catalytic converters." These "catalytic converters" contain metals that can be sold separately for a profit.
• High poverty rates and cases of drug abuse are also a factor in high rates of vehicle theft and other crimes.

 

Source

 

Causes of High Vehicle Theft Rates

• BAKERSFIELD, CA
• The most likely cause of the high vehicle theft rate in Bakersfield, CA, is due to generally high crime rates.
• The property theft rates in Bakersfield were especially high in 2019, according to FBI data.
• The region was also among the top 20 most dangerous cities of America in a survey done by The National Council for Home Safety and Security.
• The number of homicides in the city in 2021 is also expected to surpass previous years' numbers.
• YUBA CITY, CA
• Yuba City has generally high criminal rates, which is the likely cause of high vehicle theft rates.
• The rates of violent crimes, rape, and assault were also among the top.
• The metropolitan area also had high rates of larceny, property theft, and burglary.
• DENVER — AURORA — LAKEWOOD, CO
• Denver, Aurora, and Lakewood are cities with generally high crime rates, which is a likely cause of high vehicle theft rates.
• Denver and Aurora are among the top most dangerous cities in Colorado, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation data.
• The recent pandemic also boosted the crime rates in the region, as people stole vehicles to commit other crimes.
• ODESSA, TX
• Odessa city had a very high violent crime rate in 2019, according to FBI data. It also had generally high property crime rates.
• The high crime rates in Odessa are the likely reason for high vehicle theft rates, as stolen vehicles are often used for other crimes.
• The high vehicle theft rates had continued into 2020, mostly due to the effects of the pandemic.
• SAN FRANCISCO — OAKLAND — BERKELEY, CA
• San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley metropolitan area also has generally high crime rates, which is the likely cause of high vehicle theft rates.
• FBI data shows that the region had high rates of both violent crimes and property crimes in 2019.
• During the first half of 2021, as the region started to relax COVID-19 guidelines, the crime rates (especially property thefts) started to increase even more.
• Allegedly, this spike is partly due to the actions of its current District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who ended the cash bail system thus reducing the prison population by half.
• ALBUQUERQUE, NM
• The Albuquerque region had very high violent crime rates in 2019, which continued in 2020.
• The high crime rate is the most likely cause of high vehicle theft rates in the region.
• Another cause of the high vehicle theft rate in the region is the high poverty rate and drug abuse.
• The disparity, between the rich and the poor, causes crime rates and thefts to spike.
• Drug abuse is often accompanied by impaired judgment, leading to a variety of crimes like theft, robbery, and burglary.
• The region also experienced an increase in homicide cases last year, partly due to instances of drug-induced squabbles.
• PUEBLO, CO
• While the rate of violent crimes in Pueblo was negligent, the region had a very high rate of property crimes including larceny, burglary, and theft.
• The city also has a high population of poverty-stricken people, which often translates to a higher crime rate.
• The high crime rate in Pueblo is the likely cause of high vehicle theft rates.
• BILLINGS, MT
• While the Billings region did not have any reports of homicide in 2019, the crimes rates for other violent crimes like rape, assault, and robbery were comparable to large metropolitan regions like San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley or Bakersfield.
• The region had generally high rates of property crimes, including burglary and larceny. This is likely to be a cause of high theft rates.
• Another likely cause for high vehicle theft rates is the poor state of Billings police department.
• The Center for Public Safety Management performed a study on the Billings police department, according to which the police department was "overworked, understaffed and lacks adequate facilities."
• ST. JOSEPH, MO-KS
• While St. Joseph has a relatively low population, it had very high crime rates in 2019.
• The crime rates for property theft were especially high, while the violent crime rates were generally high.
• The high crime rate in St. Joseph is the likely reason for high vehicle theft rates, as vehicle thefts are often associated with other crimes as well.
• TULSA, OK
• Tulsa, Oklahoma, had very high violent crime rates and property theft rates in 2019.
• The city also almost broke the record for the number of homicide cases in 2020.
• The recent pandemic also played the role of a driving factor for high vehicle theft rates.
• The city was dubbed as the second most dangerous city in Oklahoma by Ackerman Security, based on crime statistics.
• The high crime rates in the city are the likely cause behind the high vehicle theft rates.

News Stories About Vehicle Thefts

• BAKERSFIELD, CA
• September 2021 —
• A 26-foot white truck was stolen from "the parking lot of Roadway Inn and Suites located on 3400 Chester Lane in Bakersfield."
• The truck was being used by a moving company to transport the belongings of Andrew Murphy, from his Texas residence to California.
• The truck was found 5 days later by the police, with most of its contents missing.
• April 2021 —
• A trailer truck belonging to Jesus Sanders was stolen after he reported hate crimes against himself.
• Before the theft, Sanders had reported that his house and his trailer truck were spray painted with racist slurs.
• After he reported the matter to authorities, he found his truck stolen the next day.
• March 2021 —
• Nicole Hobson found a thief stealing her boyfriend's pickup truck within a few minutes.
• The thief appeared to have had access to the truck. He effortlessly went in and drove away.
• The vehicle in which the thief arrived before stealing the pickup truck was also a stolen vehicle.
• YUBA CITY, CA
• September 2021 —
• A group of people robbed a man and stole his car, while he was smoking marijuana with his group of friends.
• According to the man, a second group got a jump on him and drove away with his car and wallet.
• The man received minor injuries. The prime suspect was arrested, and charged with several offenses.
• September 2021 —
•  Two men stole a car from "the 2300 block of Howlett Ave off of Butte House Rd in Yuba City."
• The property owner's son was also swept with the car when he tried to stop the theft.
• The incident resulted in the son receiving fatal injuries, due to which he died later on.
• The two suspects were later arrested and charged with murder.
• DENVER — AURORA — LAKEWOOD, CO
• May 2021 —
• Cedric Vick, a 22-year old boy, fired at a woman with a toddler and stole her car.
• The thief made the police chase him through Denver and Lakewood, firing handgun shots at police officers.
• He finally crashed the car and fired more shots at the police officers arriving on the scene.
• The police fired retaliatory shots at him, and he died later due to gunshot wounds.
• June 2021 —
• An unidentified man stole a car with a sleeping baby inside from 900 block of Quebec Street.
• The car was left running while it was parked, and the man sneaked in and drove off.
• He left the car later on when he noticed the baby inside. He abandoned the car in front of a nearby car wash.
• January 2021 —
• A 63-year old woman was robbed of her vehicle from a car wash.
• The woman had parked her van in a car wash when the thief manhandled her and pulled her out of the driving seat.
• The thief fled with the vehicle and was identified later on as Phillip Dent.
• ODESSA, TX
• July 2021 —
• A woman with three kids had her vehicle stolen when she "made a pit stop at the Pilot Travel Center off I-20 in Big Spring."
• The woman, her boyfriend, and her kids had gone inside the pilot, accidentally leaving the keys in the car.
• The family was moving to Odessa and the car contained their belongings and other material of personal importance.
• April 2021 —
• Paul Wade, a resident near 87th and Cornell in Odessa, had his car stolen and recovered within 24 hours.
• He saw the video footage of the thief sneaking in the car and driving away using the spare key left in the car.
• Paul filed a complaint to the police and posted it on social media.
• The police were on the case immediately and tracked the stolen car and the suspect, which lead them to discover more stolen items of importance and vehicles.
• July 2021 —
• A west Odessa family's food truck was stolen "from a parking lot by the intersection of W. University Blvd. and N. Alturas Ave."
• The family runs the business “La Benedicion Burritos and More” and had recently purchased the food truck.
• According to the family, some people were flocking around and scoping out their vehicle a few days before the theft.
• SAN FRANCISCO — OAKLAND — BERKELEY, CA
• July 2021 —
• A man called Jeffrey Wang had his vehicle stolen while he was "delivering food for DoorDash on the 2100 block of Jackson Street in Pacific Heights."
• The stolen minivan had his kids inside. While returning from the delivery, he saw a stranger sneak into the minivan and drive off.
• An amber alert was issued and the kids were found safe in the Bayview area. The vehicle is still missing.
• June 2021 —
• A dogwalker's truck was stolen from "a client's home on Brann Street and Seminary Avenue," while it was left running.
• The truck had three dogs and the dogwalker's wallet inside. The thief later used her credit card for making different purchases.
• Two of the dogs were recovered from Oakland with the help of residents. One of the dogs is still missing.
• ALBUQUERQUE, NM
• July 2021 —
• A thief stole a truck from a father-son duo, Don Breuer and Dillon Breuer.
• They had both been working on fixing the truck for a year and finished two weeks before the incident.
• The truck was stolen from "the Aspen Apartments near Cottonwood Mall."
• June 2021 —
• Anthony Ortiz, a 27-year old man, stole a sedan from Barbara Martinez-McCoy by threatening her at gunpoint.
• Anthony had shot Marty Little, a guest at the inn where Barbara was staying, and used the stolen vehicle to run away.
•  Marty Little died due to gun wounds. Barbara's vehicle was recovered later on in a poor state with all the belongings inside missing.
• March 2021 —
• An empty fire truck was stolen from Total Wine in Uptown, where the Albuquerque Fire Rescue's trucks were parked.
• The thief tried to drive through a parking structure but failed to do so and left the vehicle there.
• The Albuquerque Fire Rescue's paramedics were called to assist a man suffering from cardiac arrest.
• PUEBLO, CO
• May 2021 —
• A Colorado Department of Transport (CDOT) truck was stolen from Pueblo, Colorado.
• The Colorado Police Department issued a public notice to help find the stolen vehicle.
• January 2021 —
• A vehicle was stolen from 1700 block of Kingsroyal Boulevard after the vehicle slipped on the snow and its owner exited the running vehicle.
• The vehicle owner crashed into a residential fence after his vehicle slipped on the snow.
• He got out of the vehicle to ask the owner of the residence for help when the thief came along and took off with the running vehicle.
• BILLINGS, MT
• July 2020 —
• A white Ford F350 and a trailer towed to it were stolen from the residence of Heather McDowell.
• The trailer was later found on fire "in a rural area between Pryor and Billings at 8807 Cormier Road."
• The pickup truck was still missing. The burning trailer contained valuables of emotional importance to Heather.
• May 2021 —
• A man stole a car at gunpoint from "a trailer park sitting east of Sugar Avenue and just outside city limits."
• The theft was immediately reported and the thief was apprehended by the traffic police half an hour later.
• The victim and the suspect were familiar with each other.
• ST. JOSEPH, MO-KS
• July 2021 —
• A trailer truck containing COVID-19 medical supplies "was reported stolen by Northwest Health Services."
• The trailer was taken on loan from one of the doctors and was being used as a cool-down area by the testing officials.
• The trailer did not contain any expensive equipment and only contained some minor testing supplies.
• TULSA, OK
• August 2021 —
• Around seven cars were stolen from the same neighborhood by a band of thieves.
• The thieves were caught on camera by BriGette Williams, who says that it was a large group made up of young men and women.
• The group "targeted homes from 112th to 131st Street along with Sheridan in south Tulsa and Bixby."
• Another woman, Kylie Mayes, also had her vehicle stolen from "Price Mart near 12th and Garnett."
• May 2021 —
• An armed robbery turned into carjacking "happened at 436 South 93rd East Avenue in east Tulsa."
• The victims were approached by the suspects and threatened with a pistol before leaving with their car.
• The male victim's girlfriend was tracking the location of his phone left in the car. The police used this fact to catch the suspect.
• The 17-years old culprit surrendered peacefully and was charged with "armed robbery, possession of a firearm in commission, and possession of a stolen vehicle."
• June 2021 —
• A man named Philip Heygi broke into a house near Admiral and 177th E. Avenue, and after going through the garage, stole a military vehicle.
• Philip was reported to the police by his girlfriend for driving to her house after "an all-night binge on meth, to show off his newly acquired military truck."
• The man gave the police a chase and was caught later on with help of pepper shots and a taser. He was charged with several offenses post-treatment.

Research Strategy