Vehicle Theft Continues to Decline in US

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB) study, the preliminary 2008 FBI Uniform Crime Report figures show that vehicle theft has decreased by 13.1 percent from 2007, making 2008 the fifth consecutive year of declining vehicle thefts. Certain models of older cars and trucks are popular with thieves, as their parts are in great demand on the market. The used yet still running parts can be sold for at least twice as much as the value of the vehicle on the used car market. Moreover, newer models are more difficult to steal thanks to the anti-theft technology. NICB also gives car owners four advices for making their vehicles less attractive to thieves. First of all, it is recommended to lock your car and take our keys. It may sound simple, yet many of you forget to do it. Second, you should have and use a visible or audible warning device. Third, immobilizing devices are also a must have, such as fuel cut-offs and smart keys. And last, tracking devices are also recommended, as they emit a signal to the police or to a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. "This is great news for vehicle owners, law enforcement and the insurance industry," said Joe Wehrle, NICB's president and CEO, in a statement for the press. "It takes years of sustained effort to deliver the kinds of reductions that we are enjoying today. NICB joins with our member companies in acknowledging the great work performed by law enforcement and our investigators in the fight against vehicle theft,” added Wehrle. According to the study reports, for 2008 the most stolen vehicles in the nation were: