NCJ Number
32432
Date Published
1974
Length
50 pages
Annotation
SUMMARY REPORT OF A STUDY OF THE ACTUAL METHODS THIEVES USE TO STEAL CARS, THE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES OF EACH OF THE IGNITION LOCKING SYSTEMS, AND THE THEFT RATES OF DIFFERENT AMERICAN CARS.
Abstract
THIS RESEARCH EFFORT COMPARED THE THEFT RATES OF CARS MANUFACTURED BEFORE AND AFTER THE FEDERAL LAW REQUIRING ALL CARS SOLD AFTER JANUARY 1, 1970 TO HAVE IGNITION LOCKS TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF THE STANDARD IN DETERRING AUTO THEFT. THE THEFT RATES WERE EVALUATED BY AUTOMOBILE COMPANY FOR ALL AMERICAN CARS MADE SINCE 1962. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT IF THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS WERE DOING THEIR JOB, THIEVES WOULD BE STEALING OLDER CARS AT A HIGHER RATE THAN NEWER ONES. POST-1970 FORDS HAD A THEFT RATE FOR HIGHER THAN THE PRE-1970 FORD PRODUCTS (45 CARS PER THOUSAND COMPARED TO 11 CARS PER THOUSAND). POST-1970 THEFT RATES WERE LOWER FOR GENERAL MOTORS AND CHRYSLER AND THE SAME FOR AMERICAN MOTORS. ALL THEFT RATES WERE CLOSELY RELATED TO THE EASE OF LOCK REMOVAL, WITH THE FORD LOCK BEING THE EASIEST AND THE GENERAL MOTORS LOCK THE MOST DIFFICULT, FOR BOTH RANK AMATEURS AND PROFESSIONAL CAR THIEVES. THE AUTHORS MAINTAINS THAT AUTO THEFTS CAN BE GREATLY REDUCED BY MAKING CARS HARDER TO STEAL - SPECIFICALLY, IMPROVING THE DESIGN OF THE DESIGN OF THE IGNITION LOCK. THIS, HE CONTENDS, WOULD DISCOURAGE THE LARGE NUMBER OF YOUNG CAR THIEVES WHO STEAL TO JOY RIDE. SUGGESTED IS A LOCK DESIGN WHICH RESISTS A 'DENT PULLER', THE TOOL USED BY CAR THIEVES TO REMOVE IGNITION LOCKS. ALSO RECOMMENDED IS STATE LEGISLATION TO REGULATE STANDARDS FOR ANTI-THEFT DEVICES. THE EXTENSIVE APPENDIX CONTAINS A COPY OF THE SUGGESTED STATUTE, A TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF MOST COMMON THEFT METHODS, A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPOSITION OF HOW IGNITION LOCKS ARE BROKEN OUT OF STEERING COLUMNS, AND OTHER PERTINENT DATA.