Vehicle thefts have soared since the beginning of the pandemic, but so have recovery rates, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). They found that more than 85% of the passenger vehicles stolen in 2022 were recovered – 34% of those within a day of the theft being reported.
“Approximately one motor vehicle is stolen every 32 seconds, which adds up to more than one million vehicles stolen last year,” David J. Glawe, president and CEO of the NICB said in a release. “Vehicle theft disrupts lives, causes financial hardship, and undermines community safety. Addressing this problem is not just the responsibility of law enforcement agencies; it requires a partnership between vehicle owners, community members, as well as federal, state, and local governments.”
To protect your vehicle from theft, NICB recommends owners take common-sense measures like removing valuable items from the car, rolling up all windows, locking all doors and not leaving your key fob in the vehicle.
If, despite precautions, your vehicle is still the target of theft, the NICB recommends you report the car as stolen to law enforcement as soon as you notice it is missing. Police involvement not only gives you a better shot at recovering your vehicle, but it also creates a record of the incident you can share with your insurer. Information police will ask for when you make the report will include include the car’s make, model, color, license plate number and VIN.
In the slideshow above, we’ll look at which vehicles the NICB found were stolen most often in 2022.
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