Security issue: Vehicle theft

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Vehicle with broken window from forced entry

Vehicle theft is the crime of theft, or attempt of theft of or from a motor vehicle (automobile, truck, bus, motorcycle, etc.).

Description

This category includes both theft of and from vehicles in the same category, because the measures against it would be very alike from the viewpoint of an urban planner.

This category does not include: carjacking/joyriding, theft with access to keys, fraudulent theft, or opportunistic theft

Contributing circumstances

  • location (attainability of theft)
  • Deserted car parking lots, quiet junctions and residential areas are often targets. In addition, vehicles stuck in traffic are often targets for a 'smash and grab' incident where an item of value is clearly visible (e.g. handbag, purse, stereo, etc.)/
Risk of Car Theft by Parking Location in England and Wales (1982-1994)[1]
Location Thefts per 100,000 cars per 24 hours
Home garage 2
Home carport/drive 40
Home street 117

Impacts

Social impact

Economic impact

In terms of economic impact, the costs of vehicle theft, the parties on whom those costs fall, possible secondary economic impact, and a cost-effectiveness analysis of prevention measures should be assessed. Although vehicle theft is not as intrusive as violent crime, it is both quite common and costly for society.[2] The direct costs of vehicle theft are for about 16% attributable to costs in anticipation of vehicle theft (e.g. anti-vehicle theft measures and insurance administration). Although this is considerable, the major part (almost 80%_ of the costs of vehicle theft are attributable to the consequence of vehicle theft, e.g. the value of the stolen vehicles (±45%), physical and emotional impact on victims (±15%), the costs of property recovered (±10%). The remaining 4% can be attributed to the costs in response of crime by the public authorities (policing and the criminal justice system)[3].

Mobility impact

safety impact

Measures

  • surveillance
  • reaction force
  • target hardening
  • access control (parkings)
  • deflecting offenders
  • Education (don't leave valuables in car)

Footnotes and references

  1. http://www.popcenter.org/problems/residential_car_theft/
  2. In 2006, about one million vehicles got stolen in both the United States and in the European Union. Source: Barham, J. (2011). Europe’s Car Thieves Go Upscale. Security management.
  3. Home Office, Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (2005). The economic and social costs of crime against individuals and households 2003/04.