Learn More About Car Theft Prevention
Kathy Simpson
Was Your Car Broken Into?
After having decreased for 23 years in a row, the number of stolen vehicles increased in 2015.* According to the FBI, a total of 713,063 motor vehicles were stolen in the United States in 2015—a 3 percent increase compared to 2014. One of the main reasons for this is that a growing number of drivers are becoming accustomed to leaving their cars unlocked with their keys inside. While you’ll learn about car theft prevention in this article; check out tips for staying safe behind the wheel as well.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that one out of every eight cars stolen in 2015 were “freebies,” which means they were left unattended, unlocked with the keys or key fobs inside. That number represents a 22 percent jump in this kind of motor vehicle theft over 2014.
Although these numbers are alarming, they’re not necessarily surprising. For many years, car theft was on the decline, which may have led to laxity among car owners. In addition, new technology may have contributed to the rise in car thefts. For example, a remote car starter with push-button technology can make it easier for car owners to forget their key fobs inside when leaving the car, allowing criminals easy access to it. Read More