NCJ Number
69520
Date Published
1980
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THIS 1979 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE THEFT BUREAU (NATB) REVIEWS ITS ACTIVITIES, RECENT MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT LEGISLATION, AND THEFT DATA, REVEALING THAT MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT ROSE 11 PERCENT OVER 1978.
Abstract
THE FBI REPORTS THAT 991,611 MOTOR VEHICLES WERE REPORTED STOLEN IN 1978, UP 2.4 PERCENT OVER 1977. HOWEVER, ONLY 15 PERCENT OF THESE CASES WERE CLEARED BY ARRESTS, AND ONLY 41.7 PERCENT OF THE VEHICLES WERE RECOVERED; 70 PERCENT OF ALL ARRESTEES WERE UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE. IN 1979, MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS ARE EXPECTED TO TOP 1,100,000, ALTHOUGH NATB HAS INVESTIGATED 402 NEW THEFT RING CASES, RECOVERING 4,604 VEHICLES AND AIDING IN THE PROSECUTION OF 949 PERSONS. NATB HAS TRAINED OVER 22,900 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN VEHICLE THEFT, ARSON, AND FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS. THE 1979 DEMANDS ON NATB'S COMPUTERIZED NORTH AMERICAN THEFT INFORMATION SYSTEM HAVE BEEN UNUSUALLY GREAT, LEADING TO STORAGE, PROGRAM, AND OTHER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS. NEW ANTITHEFT LEGISLATION INCLUDES THE MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT PREVENTION ACT, AN OMNIBUS BILL INCREASING PENALTIES FOR TRAFFICKING IN STOLEN AUTOMOBILE PARTS AND DISCOURAGING EXPORTS OF STOLEN VEHICLES; AND THE UNIFORM VEHICLE CODE, AIMING TO UNIFY U.S. HIGHWAY REGULATIONS. FINALLY, VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS ON ALL U.S. MOTOR VEHICLES WILL HAVE TO FIT A STANDARD, EASY-TO-CHECK FORM BY SEPTEMBER 1980. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE VARIOUS 1979 ANTITHEFT COMMISSIONS AND TASK FORCES, AND THE INFLUENCE OF AUTOMOBILE SALVAGE ON THEFT. TABLES ARE INCLUDED.