A new analysis from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the association dedicated to predicting, preventing and prosecuting insurance crimes, vehicle and catalytic converter thefts have continued to plague many US cities. since the start of the pandemic and expects the trend to continue for the rest of 2022.
Almost half a million of vehicles were stolen in the first half of 2022 (as of 30 June), which is equivalent to an estimated value of $4,500 million dollars in losses. This represents an increase of 25% over the total vehicle thefts reported for the first half of the year in 2019. In addition, NICB estimates that 100,000 more vehicles for purposes of 2022 compared to totals pre-pandemic.
“There is very little deterrence to stop these criminals because vehicle thefts are property crimes,” said David Glawe, president and CEO of the National Crime Bureau insurance. “Since the start of the pandemic, used car prices have risen between a 35% and a 40%. Criminals are taking advantage of these high prices, as vehicle and catalytic converter thefts are crimes of opportunity. And crime is business, and business is good.”
According to NICB, the United States is experiencing the highest numbers of vehicle theft since 1200, with no hope of a downward trend in the short term. Some cities with the largest increases between the first half of 2019 and the first half of 2022 include:
– Denver, Colorado: increase of 155%
– Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Increase of 106%
– Austin, Texas: increase of 64%
Separately, catalytic converter thefts have increased by 1,160 % nationwide since 2019, and vehicle thefts have increased by 160% to more than 500% in some major cities from 2019.
“To stop this lawlessness, we must turn our attention to these criminals and take back our streets,” Glawe said. “We must reinvest in our law enforcement.”
In early 2022, Glawe testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee and offered 6 recommendations to help address this issue:
– Increase in community policing programs
– Review of well-intentioned criminal justice reform policies
– Enforcement of laws as written2022– Focused attention on violent offenders2022– National and state data collection on robberies of vehicles
– Identification and implementation of successful early intervention programs.
According to NICB, President Biden, through an Executive Order , recently adopted many of the recommendations.
For more details about the report, enter here.
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