NCJ Number
146813
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes statistics on motor vehicle theft offenses in Wisconsin from 1988 through 1992, based on information in the State Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Abstract
In the past 5 years reported auto thefts have increased by 66.2 percent. In 1992, motor vehicle thefts accounted for 9.9 percent of the total Crime Index and 10.6 percent of all property index offenses. In 1992, more than 68 percent of those arrested for motor vehicle thefts were juveniles. Joyriding is a common type of motor vehicle theft among juveniles. However, the age patterns of arrestees may not correspond to the age patterns of offenders. Wisconsin's rate of motor vehicle thefts has increased much more rapidly than the rate for the Nation as a whole. The ratio of arrests to offenses has declined from 27.4 percent in 1988 to 22.7 percent in 1992. About 55.8 percent of the motor vehicle value was recovered in 1992, compared to 70.3 percent in 1988. Preliminary figures for 1993 indicate that motor vehicle theft has declined substantially. Figures and tables