Alarming News: Car Theft Not a Pressing Concern for Buyers
Fortunately, car theft has declined in the U.S. in recent years. Crime data indicates that vehicle thefts fell 3.5% in 2006, and continued dropping 7.4% in 2007, marking the fourth consecutive year of annual decreases.
While it's difficult to claim one specific reason for this decline, it is clear that options for preventing car theft have increased in recent years. Several anti-theft devices are becoming widely available as options for new car buyers.
In addition to car alarms, vehicle location systems, such as the OnStar, offer car owners an added peace of mind. These systems utilize GPS and satellite technology to pinpoint the location of a lost or stolen car.
Perhaps in light of the encouraging, downward shift in car theft, new car buyers don't seem too worried about the topic. According to a recent BuyingAdvice.com survey, only 28% say they assume a car is being stolen when they hear a car alarm go off. It is all too common these days to hear a random alarm sound, as you walk through the supermarket or mall parking lot.
Only 19% of the more than 3,000 prospective car buyers who participated in the recent survey knew the theft rate for the car they had requested information on. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's website, the Honda Civic was the nation's most stolen vehicle in 2006, with the Honda Accord coming in second.
As far as location goes, the West Coast continued to be the prime area for vehicle thefts in 2007.
Modesto, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and San Diego, CA topped the list this past year. Sgt. Craig Gundlach, of the Modesto police department, believes that drugs are partially to blame for its extremely high rate of car theft. He states that the city is "a high intensity area for methamphetamine use."
In Las Vegas, authorities link the large amount of tourists to the stolen car problem. They insist that visitors simply do not take the necessary precautions to protect their vehicles. Locking car doors seems like common sense, however many people fail to do so, which would prevent a large number of thefts. While a number of anti-theft devices are available, consumers indicate that the car alarm remains their top choice.
54% of respondents to the BuyingAdvice survey said they would choose to have an alarm system included or installed in their next vehicle. Although this is not a high rate, only 39% said they plan to install a vehicle location system in their next car. The OnStar, a popular option in GM vehicles, will be introducing a new service option for their 2009 vehicles. The service, called Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, allows call-center operators to remotely cut off engine power to cars that have been reported stolen.
Published on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - Email to a friend
Copyright 2009 BuyingAdvice.com, INC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.
Find New Cars
SEARCH BY MANUFACTURER
