---

Vehicles at Risk for Theft in Port and Border Communities, Says the NICB

6 June 2000

New Film 'Gone in 60 Seconds' Raises Awareness of Auto Theft Problem

     

    PALOS HILLS, Ill. - Nearly 40 percent of all vehicle thefts occur in or near
ports and border communities -- with close to 19 percent stolen in the greater 
Los Angeles area, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

    The NICB analysis reported that close to 450,000 cars and trucks were
stolen countrywide in metropolitan areas with ports or close to international
borders in 1998.

    Each year more than 200,000 vehicles are exported illegally from the
United States.  Many of these were stolen in port and border communities,
according to NICB.

    "More and more vehicles are being targeted for export by thieves who sneak
them out through ports and across borders," said Robert Bryant, president and
chief executive officer of NICB, the insurance industry's theft and fraud
fighting organization.

    "People who live in these areas should take special care to protect their
cars and trucks from thieves."

    The Los Angeles area was by far the prime target with more than 65,000
thefts.

    The top ten areas with port facilities or near international borders that
recorded the greatest number of vehicle thefts were:

    Los Angeles (65,243 vehicles stolen)
    New York (46,709)
    Philadelphia (30,355)
    Phoenix (29,868)
    Houston (28,263)
    Miami (20,977)
    Riverside/San Bernardino (19,821)
    San Diego (18,685)
    Seattle (18,304)
    Oakland (17,293)

    "Law enforcement agencies have helped bring auto theft down about 5
percent nationally," said Bryant.  "They've done a terrific job."

    But the first line of defense against vehicle theft is the owner, he said.
NICB recommends a layered approach to protecting vehicles.

    There are four layers of protection to consider: common sense -- removing
the keys and locking the doors; visible and audible devices -- steering wheel
locks or alarms; immobilizing devices -- smart keys or kill switches; and
tracking devices.

    "The number of layers a vehicle needs depends on the vehicle and the
geographic location," said Bryant.  "Budget and personal preference should
also determine which anti theft device to choose."

    The National Insurance Crime Bureau is a nonprofit organization supported
by approximately 1,000 insurance and self-insured companies dedicated to
fighting insurance-related crime.

    Footnote:  Figures are based on MSAs as reported to the FBI Uniform
               Crime Report