NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month. Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas and their safety partners are taking the opportunity to warn about the rise in vehicle theft, noting that the surge in auto thefts is costly for all vehicle owners.
"Nationwide, in 2022, we surpassed the one million mark for stolen vehicles for the first time in 15 years," Steward said. "That was a 7% increase over the year before. The trend is on the way up. Here in Kansas, the latest statistics from 2021, there were more than 9100 vehicles stolen in the Sunflower state. That was the 12th highest theft rate in the nation."
Vehicle theft is among the nation’s most costly property crimes and affects more than just the theft victims.
"The top five stolen vehicles are typically the most common vehicles on the road," Steward said. "We're looking at Ford pickups, Chevy pickups, Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Dodge pickups, so if you're driving one of those vehicles, you might be extra vigilant to locking your vehicle, parking it in a well-lit place, parking it in a garage, if you're able to. Some of those things can help prevent theft."
Lock your car every time and everywhere you park it. Even without the keys inside, thieves are more likely to steal a car left unlocked.
"The insurance industry reports that about one fourth of the typical comprehensive auto insurance premium goes to pay for auto theft claims," Steward said. "Those costs are being passed along across the industry, across all of the insured. To that point, comprehensive coverage is what you need to cover you in the case of a theft. Liability insurance will not cover you, so it's important to talk to your insurance agent about that."
It's estimated that approximately one motor vehicle is stolen every 32 seconds in the United States.
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