AAA: Car Thefts Are on the Rise

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AAA is reporting that vehicle thefts are on the rise. Figures from the Insurance Information Institute show there were 810,400 vehicle thefts in 2020, a rise of 11.8% compared to the year prior (2019).

New York was ranked 13th in number of vehicle thefts. The top five states were California, Texas, Florida, Colorado, and Washington. Triple A states that police in multiple areas within New York are reporting an up-tick in thefts this year alone.

News is even worse for Kia and Hyundai drivers after a Tik Tok challenge targets the two car brands in vehicle theft by using a USB charging cord to start the car. New York has been one of the states affected by the recent “challenge” to a point where free steering wheel locks have been offered to owners of the affected vehicles.

AAA suggests to prevent your vehicle from being targeted in a theft to use these theft protection tips:

• Be Aware
  • Almost half of vehicle thefts can be prevented by the owner.
    • Park in well-lit area
    • Lock the doors and close all windows
    • Remove spare keys from inside vehicle
    • Move valuables and other items out of view
• Deterrence
  • If a vehicle is easy to break-into and escape, chances are thieves will be attracted to it
    • Purchase a steering wheel lock
    • Brake pedal locks
    • Theft deterrent stickers
    • Audible alarm systems
• Immobilization
  • Immobilization devices prevent a vehicle from being hot-wired. Most new vehicles already come with such technology, but aftermarket products are available to older vehicles
    • Smart keys
    • Fuse cut-offs
    • Kill switches
    • Starter or fuel pump disablers
    • Wireless ignition authentication system
• Tracking
  • Tracking devices will emit a signal to police or a monitoring station when a vehicle is stolen.