NCJ Number
196046
Date Published
February 2002
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This article presents a comprehensive overview of the unique characteristics of car thieves in the Netherlands in an attempt to improve the prevention and tracking of car thieves.
Abstract
The Netherlands is faced with the reoccurring problem of car theft. To gain improvements in the prevention and tracking of car thieves an increased knowledge regarding the specific characteristics of car thieves is necessary. This paper conducted a preliminary investigation on the various typologies of car thieves and was based on the WODC Criminal Justice Monitor and the Police Offenders Identification System. Three types of car theft are described and include: (1) car thefts are carried out as a result of a need for transportation; (2) car thefts are carried out in relation to one or more other offenses; and (3) car thefts are carried out for selling in relation to a network or criminal organization. Characteristics specific to the car thieves themselves include: (1) nearly all car thieves are men; (2) approximately half are of Dutch origin; (3) one-third who steal a car for transportation are hard drug users; (4) a majority of car thieves have a prior criminal history; (5) most are unemployed; and (6) non-professional thieves stealing for selling are relatively young, seldom use hard drugs, are unemployed, and steal the car by forcing the locks.