By Scott Cohn - CNBC
Now you can blame something else on the COVID-19 pandemic: the rise in car thefts.
Vehicle thefts in the United States increased 9% last year from the previous year to 873,000,
the highest number in more than a decade,
according to statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). English) provided to CNBC, sister network of Noticias Telemundo.
The pandemic created "a perfect storm" for car thefts to increase, said NICB President and CEO David Glawe.
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"We have a
lot of young people who are unemployed and programs to help them are closed
or limited due to COVID-19," he said, "There are frustrated and upset people in society. We are also seeing limitations in public safety resources and the withdrawal of proactive surveillance due to budget constraints. "
Vehicles have also become especially valuable these days.
Due to low supply and strong post-pandemic demand, used car prices grew almost 30% from the previous year.
[A 13-year-old girl dies after being thrown out of the car during an attempted robbery in Los Angeles]
The rise in thefts started slowly, coinciding with the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. They accelerated last June when the first wave of coronavirus quarantines waned and a second wave loomed.
In November, 18% more monthly robberies were registered than in 2019.
The biggest increase was in Chicago, Illinois, which posted a 134% increase
last year, the NICB said.
The local Police Department said it also recorded twice as many vehicle thefts when the owner is present.
Vehicles have become especially valuable.
Due to tight supply and strong demand in the aftermath of the pandemic, used car prices have risen nearly 30% over the previous year.Getty Images
"This has been a year that has presented numerous challenges for law enforcement," said Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown.
The numbers
leveled off somewhat as restrictions on the pandemic eased,
but Chicago police data released this month shows that robberies are still 9% higher than a year ago.
Elsewhere, thefts increased 68% in New York City and 50% in Washington, DC, the NICB said.
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With today's high prices, there is a ready market for most cars and trucks,
as well as their parts.
And it is very easy for criminals to simply steal vehicles.
The NICB says that
more than 10%
of vehicles stolen in 2019, the latest year for which full figures are available,
had their keys inside.
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Since almost all cases lead to an insurance claim, all policyholders suffer from higher premiums.
Here are some common sense tips:
Take the keys out of the ignition when you park the vehicle or if your car has a remote key fob.
Keep it with you even if you just got out of your vehicle briefly.
Close your doors and windows and park in a well-lit area.
Do not leave valuables or anything else that may attract the interest of thieves inside your car.
Consider keeping a photo of your vehicle registration on your phone rather than leaving the actual document in your glove compartment.
Consider installing a car alarm and kill switch that can immobilize a stolen vehicle.
Consider getting a GPS tracker that can help authorities find your vehicle.