Vehicle Thefts Down for Second Year in a Row, CHP Data Reveals

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By Bay City News

The California Highway Patrol released vehicle theft statistics for 2014 Thursday, revealing that vehicle thefts in the state decreased last year by almost 7 percent from 2013, marking the second year in a row that vehicle thefts have declined. The CHP reported 159,271 vehicle thefts for 2014, with approximately 20 percent of those thefts happening in the five Bay Area counties of Alameda, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara, according to the CHP. In 2013, the CHP reported vehicle thefts had decreased from the previous year by 2 percent, CHP officials said.

“While the continuing decline in theft is good news,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said, “people need to remember that vehicle theft is a crime of opportunity. Simple deterrents such as locking vehicle doors, parking in a secure or highly visible location, and not leaving the car running unattended can make all the difference.”

The CHP estimates the total value of the vehicles stolen in 2014 amounts to approximately $9 million. However, almost 90 percent of the vehicles reported stolen that year were successfully recovered. Of those recovered vehicles, 65 percent were recovered intact and in drivable condition, the CHP said. Less than 4 percent of those recovered vehicles were missing major components, 12 percent were stripped of minor parts and 18.9 percent were intentionally burned or wrecked, according to CHP officials.

The most popular cars for thieves are the 1996, 1994 and 1997 Honda Accord. The 2007 Suzuki was the most-stolen motorcycle and the 1988 Toyota pickup was the most stolen personal truck, CHP officials said. Toyota pickups have been the most frequently stolen pickup since 1984, because of its resale value, interchangeable parts and availability, according to the CHP.

In order to minimize vehicle thefts, the CHP is advising drivers to take certain precautions, such as making sure to receive an ownership certificate when purchasing a vehicle, never hiding a spare ignition key on the vehicle, being aware of your surroundings and taking extra precautions when operating a vehicle that is popular with thieves.