Americans are paying more, on average, for new and used vehicles than ever before, giving the country’s car thieves plenty of incentive to keep up the hard work.
New stats from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, or NICB, reveal car theft is up 25% since 2019 and catalytic converter theft is up more than 1,200% during the same timeframe. In fact, nearly 500,000 vehicles were stolen in America in the first half of 2022.
NICB estimates 100,000 more vehicles will have been stolen by the end of 2022 in comparison to pre-pandemic totals. The current total accounts for nearly $4.5 billion worth of vehicles.
“There is very little deterrent to stopping these criminals because vehicle thefts are property crimes,” said David Glawe, president and CEO of the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
“Since the start of the pandemic, used car prices have increased 35 to 40 percent. Criminals are exploiting these high prices as vehicle and catalytic converter thefts are crimes of opportunity. And crime is a business, and business is good.”
Hitting new highs
The organization notes stolen vehicle numbers are at their highest levels since 2008, and it doesn’t see anything coming that will reverse the trend.
One of the reasons for the increase in the numbers is the “Kia Challenge.” Kia and Hyundai vehicles leapt to the top of “most stolen” lists following a viral video published on TikTok demonstrating how to break the steering column. Once broken, certain models can be started using a USB device as a key.
While limited to Kia products built between 2011 and 2021 and Hyundai vehicles from 2016-2021 that use a plain metal key to start the vehicle, that still offered plenty of opportunity for thieves.
The phenomenon started in 2021, but it has only recently become widely known. News reports have come not only from Wisconsin and Florida, but also Colorado, California, Michigan and Ohio, as well as many other locations.
Don’t forget the standbys
While the Kia/Hyundai phenomenon contributed to the rising numbers, thieves are still going after the “usual suspects,” as well, including Chevy and Ford full-size pickups, the Honda Civic and Accord and more.
These vehicles are top sellers and with new vehicle inventories at historic lows, these vehicles can bring a premium for thieves. There’s also a growing need for repair parts, whether body panels, engines or other components needed by owners hoping to keep their vehicles running, the NICB said previously.
What thieves target can vary from region to region, in part reflecting what people already own. The Dodge Charger was the most stolen vehicle in Michigan, with the Subaru Forester tops with thieves in Vermont and New Hampshire. The Honda Civic was the number one model in California, though third nationally.
Thieves aren’t just sneaking up and stealing vehicles while the owner is sleeping. Car jackings have shot up 160% to 500%, depending upon the major city reviewed. It’s not just new vehicles attracting attention, the epidemic of catalytic converter thefts continues seemingly unabated. The NICB noted they’ve risen 1,215% since 2019.
“To stop this lawlessness, we must focus our attention on these criminals and take back our streets,” Glawe said. “We must re-invest in our law enforcement.”
