Around the world, both private citizens and law enforcement organizations are very concerned about vehicle theft. The rates of car theft continue to rise recently although there have been developments in the technologies of car security. The following elements have contributed to this rise: the correspondent technological advancements, socioeconomic situations, crime organizations, and weak legal perspectives. To minimize cases of theft one has to ensure that they fix a Ghost Alarm to his or her car.
Almost 20 cars will be stolen nationally by the time you finish reading this article: Professionals say that, in a real sense, a car is stolen every 32 seconds. Despite a high prevalence of technological advancement in contemporary society, many car owners remain oblivious to how they can protect their precious assets, especially automobiles, considering the increasing rate of carjackings in the last couple of years. It renders a professional point of view to the new tendencies of auto theft based on the fresh data on car thefts during the last years. This covers everything from tips on how to prevent automobile thieves from approaching your vehicle right through the real-world effects of a viral TikTok auto theft fad.
Why Car Stealing Is On The Rise
After declining gradually for a few years, car crime rates dramatically increased in 2020 and 2021. Numerous relevant elements are mentioned by experts, including the NICB:
- The worldwide pandemic
- A prosperous downtown
- A decrease in outreach programs for juveniles
- Realignment of Law Enforcement
- Owner indifference
The global pandemic was the primary cause of the rise in auto crime rates, but it also suggested that stay-at-home orders caused cars to be abandoned for long periods.
Vehicle theft is becoming more complex, and thieves are using cutting-edge technology to get beyond security measures. Criminals are taking advantage of weaknesses in contemporary car security systems with startling success rates, from relay assaults on key fobs to hacks involving keyless access.
The following advice is suggested by the NICB to assist deter car thefts:
- Use well-lit spaces to park.
- As you park, shut all of the windows and doorways and secure them.
- Keep valuables hidden, as in a trunk or glove box.
- Keep your car running when you depart the neighbourhood
In case your car is stolen, it is advised to call the police as well as your insurance service. This means that the sooner a person can report his or her car being stolen, the higher the chances are that the car will be found.
Advancement in Technology and its Disadvantages
Surprisingly, the technology itself that was to reduce the rate of car theft enhances their risk. Modern cars have numerous digital gadgets and three of the most basic inclusions, referred to as keyless entry and ignition, amongst others, are electronic. However, such features are rather helpful because they provide additional ways for technology-savvy criminals to work.
- Keyless Entry Systems: Burglars have devised methods like relay attacks, in which they utilise signal boosters to pick up the frequency from a house key fob and transfer it to another gadget next to the vehicle. They can now unlock and turn on the car without ever touching the key thanks to this.
- On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) Systems: Although designed for maintenance, OBD systems can be compromised to remove security measures or reprogram keys, giving criminals another avenue for exploitation.
- Internet connectivity: A further degree of risk is introduced by the growing number of linked cars, which can be operated remotely through apps. Hackers may be able to access a car’s systems and use them to unlock doors and even turn on the engine.
Gang-Related Crime
Vehicle theft rates are on the rise, and organized crime syndicates are mostly to blame. These gangs run highly developed networks that are capable of effectively stealing, moving, and reselling automobiles or their parts internationally.
- Chop Shops: Stolen cars are frequently brought to chop shops, where their components are removed and sold one at a time. This procedure not only renders it more difficult to find the stolen car but also makes the theft more profitable.
- Exporting Stolen Vehicles: Criminal organizations regularly ship stolen automobiles abroad to be sold for hefty profits. This is especially typical for luxury cars, which are more expensive elsewhere.
Financial Aspects
Some people turn to criminal activity, such as auto theft, to make quick money during economies that are struggling or financial instability.
High Parts Demand
It can be more profitable to sell the individual parts of a stolen car than to sell the whole vehicle. Reclaimed cars are frequently disassembled for important parts.
Which Cars Are Most Frequently Stolen?
HLDI and the NICB presented the information from the United States that given the period from 2011 to 2022, full-size pickups, older Honda sedans, as well as vehicles manufactured by Hyundai and Kia.
Larcenies of full-sized Chevrolet pickups amounted to 49,903 for a total of total robberies for 2022 according to the NICB list of the most stolen cars. Two other large pickups included in the ranking of the best 10 cars are Ford F-150 and GMC Sierra. Slightly over half of the other cars on the list of vehicles were sedans.
Final Words
There has been a rather large 39 per cent increase in the comparable time frame of 2022 compared to now. According to the most recent information from Tracker, a manufacturer of security and telemetry systems, the automobiles were stolen and later was a 5% increase in the number of automobiles retrieved in the first twelve months of 2023 as compared to the previous year.
