Secrets of Car Thieves
Michael Cherbonneau
ore than 1.2 million vehicles will be stolen in the US
this year alone. Most victims never come face to face with the
criminals who drive off with their cars, but Michael Cherbonneau
meets car thieves regularly. He is conducting a field-based study
on how auto thieves carry out their crimes. So far, he has
completed 30 face-to-face interviews with auto thieves recruited on
the streets of St. Louis, Missouri. He previously assisted with a
University of Alabama-Birmingham study that interviewed 54
incarcerated auto thieves.
We asked Cherbonneau to tell us what he has learned about how
car thieves operate... which cars are at the greatest risk... and
which theft-deterrent systems really work...
Who is the typical car thief? The guys I have interviewed
are hard-core street offenders. They live for the here and now,
spend money as soon as they make it and consider life a perpetual
party. Your car is probably safe in the daylight morning hours,
say, between 8:00 am and noon, because most car thieves are still
in bed asleep.
Most of these guys are not car-theft specialists -- they're
hustlers and opportunists. Today they might steal cars... tomorrow
sell drugs or commit robberies. But when they're in need of quick
money, they consider auto theft a reliable way to get it. Compared
with their other endeavors, auto theft is safe and dependable. If
they mug someone or break into a home, they don't know how much
they'll get or how the victim will react. When they steal a car,
they can pick exactly the vehicle they want and not have to deal
with the victim.
Some thieves steal cars to sell to chop shops. A chop shop
strips a stolen car and sells the parts or changes the vehicle
identification number and sells the entire car. But not every thief
has access to chop shops -- in some areas, only a few are in
operation or they don't exist at all.
How much are stolen cars
worth? Thieves
can get anywhere from $50 for a part to $3,500 for a stolen
car. That might not seem like much, but thieves want to make
money fast while avoiding detection, so they are willing to
let cars go for "street prices." Newer cars generally fetch
more than older ones. Thieves also get more for cars with
high-end audio systems and flashy aftermarket wheels that can
be easily removed and sold. In major port cities, cars
usually are stolen for export, and that can increase the
thief's profits.
Which cars are most likely to be
stolen? Generally, the more popular a
car is with buyers, the more popular it will be with thieves. Chop
shops pay more for popular vehicles because parts removed from
common cars are sure to be in demand. Stealing common cars also
makes it less likely that the thief will be caught. If a gray Honda
Accord or white Dodge Ram is stolen, the thief is relatively safe,
because the police can't pull over every one that drives by. Also,
some cars are easier to steal than others because of their ignition
design. Favorites among thieves include many older General Motors
vehicles and most of the new low-to-mid-range Dodge, Chrysler and
Pontiac models.
How effective are engine-immobilization security
devices? These computerized security
systems block the ignition or fuel flow if someone lacking the
proper key tries to hot-wire the car. This "smart key" technology
is a very effective theft deterrent, but many American cars --
especially low-end and mid-range models -- don't come with
factory-installed immobilizers. If I drove a car without
engine-immobilization technology, I would consider having an
aftermarket system installed. Your auto insurance provider might
even offer a discount if you do.
Be aware that thieves who can't beat an engine-immobilization
system may try to steal your key. Some female thieves steal car
keys from men in bars. Other thieves loiter around gas stations
waiting for customers to leave their keys with their cars when they
head inside to pay.
What other automotive security devices deter
thieves? No security product will make
your car 100% theft-proof, but anything that makes it more
difficult for the thief is worthwhile. Car thieves are not known
for working any harder than necessary…
Alarms.
Most thieves claim to be able to disable auto alarms.
Even when they can't, it isn't clear that alarms are effective
deterrents for vehicles parked on crowded streets -- the sound of a
car alarm is so common that people tend to ignore it. Still, if
your car is parked in a driveway or in front of a home in a quiet
neighborhood, the sound of the alarm might send some would-be
thieves running.
The
Club. The
Club locks onto your steering wheel, making the vehicle impossible
to operate. It can be defeated by sawing through the rim of the
steering wheel with a hacksaw, but that can be time-consuming,
increasing the risk of being caught. More
information: 800-527-3345,
www.theclub.com.
LoJack.
LoJack is a small radio transponder hidden in your
vehicle to track it when it's stolen. Many of the thieves I spoke
with had never heard of LoJack, which is more likely to be on
higher-end vehicles not targeted by these thieves. LoJack is of
concern to thieves who target luxury cars, but these thieves know
that LoJack is effective only when the victim reports the theft
quickly. Many thieves simply time their crimes so the loss won't be
noticed until after the car has been torn apart and the transponder
smashed at the chop shop. For example, thieves target business park
parking lots in the afternoon. Car owners are back from lunch and
won't notice that their cars are missing until after 5
pm. More
information: 800-4LOJACK,www.lojack.com.
Of the three deterrents you listed, which is most
effective? Based on my conversations with
car thieves, I would say The Club is probably the most
cost-effective deterrent, aside from engine-immobilization
devices.
What about car jackings? Are they
common? Victimization surveys and auto
insurance data indicate that car jacking is a rare event,
accounting for roughly 3% of vehicles stolen each year. Car
jackings are more likely to occur in urban areas and are carried
out in a spontaneous and very opportunistic manner. From the
offender's perspective, if he does not act when the opportunity is
presented, that opportunity may be lost forever.