Crime Analysis: Motor Vehicle Theft

Introduction 

Motor vehicle theft is amongst the most common crimes in many countries across the world. According to the Bureau of Investigation (FBI), approximately 228.9 motor vehicles per 100,000 people were stolen in the United States (U.S) in 2018. 1 This was a reduction from the previous year, which recorded a car theft rate of 237.7. Specifically, 748,841 vehicles were stolen in 2018 compared to 772,943 vehicles in 2017. This translated into a 3.1% decline. In its conceptualization of motor vehicle theft, the FBI includes the attempted theft or theft of buses, automobiles, snowmobiles, scooters, motorcycles, trucks, as well as other vehicles. Approximately $6 billion was lost due to motor vehicle theft in 2018. This translated into an average dollar loss of about $8, 407 per theft. Given the above statistics, motor vehicle theft is an issue of significant concern to the general public. Numerous costs are associated with vehicle theft. These include the direct financial losses that may be uninsured, the opportunity cost associated with the time spent in dealing with the theft, the opportunity cost associated with the temporary unavailability of the stolen vehicle, and lastly, the psychological cost associated with victimization. 2 While the extent of vehicle theft has reduced significantly alongside other crimes globally, this form of crime still contributes immensely to the total crime statistics. The majority of studies on motor vehicle theft have been conducted in developed countries. This is despite the fact that many developing countries are also faced with growing rates of this form of crime. This paper is aimed at carrying out a comprehensive analysis of motor vehicle theft. In particular, it will explore the crime, its perpetrators, victims, including when, where, and how it's likely to occur. 

Understanding Motor Vehicle Theft 

Motor vehicle theft can be divided into three main forms. These include theft for transportation purposes, recreational theft, and lastly, theft for-profit purposes. 3 Stealing cars for recreational purposes often entails stealing a car for fun or joyriding with no motive or real destination in mind. This form of motor vehicle theft is mostly practiced by youth and is aimed at obtaining status among their peers. Individuals who also engage in this form of motor vehicle theft are those who seek the physical or psychological thrill that is associated with taking part in or engaging in the crime. Theft of motor vehicles for transportation purposes entails stealing a vehicle for one trip or transportation facilitating or associated with the commission of another offense, for instance, break and enter. This form of motor vehicle theft may also be geared towards long term personal use. 

Motor vehicle theft for-profit purposes often entails stripping the stolen car of its parts for either resale or reuse. It may also include more organized chop-shop entities that are involved in organized crime, retagging as well as re-identification of cars for either insurance fraud or export. Re-identification involves giving a stolen car a different identity, particularly that of a wrecked car. 4 Nevertheless, vehicles stolen for profit purposes are mostly linked to adult organized offenders who often are part of an organized criminal network. When vehicle are stolen for the sole purpose of their parts, they are taken to chop-shops. Once at the chop-shops, the vehicles are dismantled and subsequently discarded. The parts obtained from the vehicles are either sold in an underground market for profit or used as replacements for the thief’s car. Further, stolen cars may be exported to other nations and subsequently resold in illegal vehicle markets for profit. 

Previous research efforts established that majority of the recorded motor vehicle cases in most jurisdictions are often classified as theft geared towards profit. In this case, the stolen motor vehicles end up being stripped of their parts, and their identification numbers changed. The parts are then exported to other countries. Canada is amongst the countries in which the sale of motor vehicle parts is big business. It is estimated that more than 20,000 cars are stolen on an annual basis and used exclusively for export purposes. Scholars cite that up to three-quarters of the total motor vehicle thefts in the country are carried out by opportunistic car thieves for use in joyriding or immediate transportation. 5 Likewise, the scholars estimated that 25% of the thefts could be associated with professionals who steal the vehicles with the goal of making a profit. Stealing motor vehicles for profit is highly methodical. For instance, when motor vehicles are stolen for profit, specific parts are targeted. The most popular parts, in this case, include core body and mechanical components, wheels, and sound equipment. 

Interestingly, the public considers theft of motor vehicle parts a crime that is not only high-return but also one that is high-return in nature. It is not uncommon for one individual to be caught and convicted for numerous cases of motor vehicle theft. Also, the convictions related to motor vehicle theft are relatively low. Very few of those caught and convicted ultimately end up in being sentenced to periods of incarceration. Owing to this attribute, engaging in motor vehicle theft has been seen to have benefits that far outweigh the costs linked to engaging in the crime. 6 Theft of motor vehicles for profit purposes is divided into five separate categories. 7 Firstly, the theft includes vehicles that have been stolen with the aim of reselling the stripped parts or replacing, rebuilding, or upgrading other vehicles. Secondly, it includes stolen motor vehicles that are likely to be resold or used in bartering for such goods as illegal drugs. Thirdly, profit-driven theft may entail stolen motor vehicle parts that may be used in repairing other motor vehicles. Fourthly, the stolen parts obtained from different vehicles could be used in creating hybrid vehicles. Lastly, the stolen motor vehicle parts are likely to be used in changing the appearance of or upgrading other motor vehicles. 

Irrespective of the particular intended purpose of stolen motor vehicle parts, more often than not, older vehicles are likely to be stolen for their parts. This phenomenon is informed by various reasons. One key explanation for this argument is the fact that the parts needed by older cars may have ceased to be manufactured and thus in short supply. 8 This phenomenon creates the need for obtaining those required parts using other means. Likewise, the older motor vehicle parts are undoubtedly likely to be cheaper compared to the new parts. This price difference leads to increased demand for the older parts that are needed for use in repairing older cars. In previous years, it was considerably easier for stolen motor vehicle parts to gain entry into legitimate motor vehicle markets. 9 This is particularly because these parts could not be easily identified as being stolen. Due to this lapse, there was increased victimization as individuals bought stolen parts unknowingly. In a bid to respond to this particular issue related to stolen vehicles, it has previously been proposed that manufacturers ought to label all the motor vehicle components that they manufacture. Likewise, it has been suggested that governments ought to not only design but also implement national vehicle wrecks registers and vehicle write-off systems. These strategies would aid in enhancing the tracking of not only wrecked cars but also their parts. Another suggestion entailed creating compulsory and uniform guidelines for the individual dealers of second-hand motor vehicle parts. This approach would aid in ensuring that the identification of stolen and legitimate motor vehicle parts can be tracked and identified with ease. 

Profiling Typical Perpetrators and Victims of Motor Vehicle Theft 

Motor vehicle theft is deemed an opportunistic form of crime. More often than not, this crime mostly involves young males aged between sixteen and twenty years. These individuals are mostly found in more accessible areas and mostly target family motor vehicles. Thus, these persons are likely to have little or no regard for the targeted vehicles’ value or age when committing the crime. 10 From a rational perspective, persons are likely to commit a crime on considering both the potential benefits of the crime to them and the costs of engaging in the crime. This implies that perpetrators of the crime have to estimate the amount and type of payoff to be derived from engaging in crime, the perceived risk, and lastly, the skillset needed to actualize the criminal activity successfully. 11 These factors are considered to be of immense importance to the perpetrators’ abilities, goals, preferences, motives, and expertise, and experience. Before targeting motor vehicles at particular locations, the criminals have to assess how awareness of the citizenry, environment, and existing crime prevention efforts are likely to influence the crime’s success. Notable crime prevention efforts that they might be on the lookout for include surveillance cameras and police patrols. 

Motor vehicle thieves that are motivated enough initiate the criminal activity based on several conditions. These conditions include convenient timing, the surrounding environment, suitability of the targeted vehicle and occupants, the parking location, and the absence or likely incapacity of capable individuals in the vicinity. 12 The increased prevalence of motor vehicle theft is driven by the increased availability of possible targets and fulfillment of the above vital factors. Additionally, the valuable nature of the targeted motor vehicle parts and the ease of mobility serve to attract motor vehicle offenders. Several factors play a crucial role in facilitating the occurrence of motor vehicle theft. These include the number of motivated offenders, lack of suitable security measures, and the number of suitable targets available. It is due to these factors that affluent neighbourhoods with large uncontrolled population have increased rates of motor vehicle theft. Thus, for the police to be capable and effective guardians, they have to carry out comprehensive spatial and temporal analyses of all motor vehicle thefts. Such analyses would also help them in devising and implementing effective strategies for preventing crimes. 

Motor vehicle theft is mostly perpetrated by young adults and the youth. Previous research efforts have highlighted that a correlation exists between rates of motor vehicle theft and the proportion of male population that is aged between fifteen and twenty-nine years. 13 This implies that the youth are disproportionately behind motor vehicle thefts. For instance, a previous study found that 42% of all the persons charged with motor vehicle theft in Canada were aged between twelve and seventeen years. 14 It has also been established that most motor vehicle thieves are mostly described as being adult males. These young offenders have been found to bear a profile characterized by numerous problems. Notable among these include frequent family moves, past involvement in crime, frequent use of drugs and alcohol, and troubled teacher and parent relationships. In most cases, youthful car thieves begin stealing cars in their teenage years. Before getting involved in actual car thefts, most of these youths participate in car thefts as passengers. Youths are likely to get involved in motor vehicle thefts for several reasons. Notable among these reasons include transportation, joyriding, or vehicle parts. Young offenders rarely steal vehicle for theft rings. This suggests that profit-driven motor vehicle theft by youths is characterized by youth criminal activity with little connection to organized crime. The youth are also to steal motor vehicles to aid in the commissioning of other crimes like Break and Enter. 

Typical youthful motor vehicle thieves can be identified using several categories. For instance, the acting out joyriders are likely to be emotionally disturbed youths whose involvement in motor vehicle theft is a means of gaining status with their peers. This group is highly dangerous on the road. It is also the group that is difficult to dissuade. 15 On the other hand, the thrill-seeking youths are often hooked to drugs and steal motor vehicles with the aim of raising funds. This group uses the stolen motor vehicle to commit other crimes. The last group of youthful motor vehicle thieves steals for purposes of raising money. This is the most active group with regard to motor vehicle theft. It is also likely to be the most rational of the groups, often taking the least amount of risk in its activities. While youths are involved in a considerable number of motor vehicle thefts, adult offenders are also likely to get involved in such crimes. 

Motor vehicle thieves can also be grouped into active searchers, alert opportunists, manipulators, and forceful auto thieves. 16 17 18 Alert opportunists rarely set out to steal motor vehicles. Rather, this group takes advantage of opportunities that randomly present themselves. For instance, a motor vehicle owner may leave his or her car running when in a hurry. Often, such thieves steal cars for the purposes of transportation. A case in point is a scenario whereby such individuals are stranded following late-night merriment. Active searchers refer to offenders that set out with the sole purpose of stealing a motor vehicle. This group of motor vehicle thieves may steal any car that they find with a key in it. As a result, this group rarely limits its targeted vehicles to those that personally appeal to them. This group may also steal vehicle keys in the process of burglarizing businesses or homes. Active searchers exhibit similarities with active searchers in that they remain alert to any opportunities that may present themselves. An example, in this case, is any running vehicles that have been abandoned temporarily. 

Forceful motor vehicle thieves refer to the individuals that use force to accomplish their mission. Often, these persons are also referred to as carjackers. Increased cases of carjacking are associated with improved methods of motor vehicle security that are implemented by motor vehicle owners and manufacturers. Since modern vehicles are currently more secure from theft than before, most motor vehicle thieves have been forced to focus on stealing motor vehicles while the owners of such vehicles occupy the targeted vehicles. 19 20 Also, such forceful motor vehicle thieves choose this strategy in a bid to escape a given situation. Moreover, some persons may use force when they lack the skills needed to steal cars more covertly. In some cases, forceful motor vehicle thieves may drug their victims so as to steal their keys when the victims are not alert. 21 

The manipulators are highly skilled in fraud and forgery, and thus are very skilled at manipulating their victims. Often, manipulators target vulnerable individuals and auto dealerships using two key strategies with the aim of accessing the targeted vehicles. These strategies are ‘slight-of-hand’ and targeting vulnerable individuals. 22 In ‘slight-of-hand,’ the perpetrator switches car keys while test driving. Consequently, the individual makes a quick copy of the key with the aid of a plastic mould. The mould is then taken to an expert that makes a version of the original key making use of the mould. This forged key is then used in stealing the targeted motor vehicle. In the second approach, such vulnerable individuals as drug addicts and drunks are targeted. For example, a vehicle may be rented out upon payment of an agreed quantity of crack cocaine. In this case, the offender may deliberately refuse to return the vehicle since the owner is unlikely to report the case to authorities. 

Regarding victims of motor vehicle theft, black households are likely to experience higher rates of theft compared to white households. When the theft rates are examined in the context of vehicle ownership per household, a bigger discrepancy between the two groups is clear. 23 Rates of theft based on both registered motor vehicles and numbers of households are also likely to be higher for Hispanic households compared to non-Hispanic households. With regard to age, younger households are likely to experience elevated rates of motor vehicle theft compared to their older counterparts. This implies that the likelihood of the occurrence of motor vehicle theft decreases with an increase in the age of households. 24 Also, households with higher incomes are likely to exhibit higher motor vehicle theft rates at the household level compared to those with low-income levels. 

Compared to larger households, single-person households are likely to experience lower rates of motor vehicle theft at the household level. Thus, rates of motor vehicle theft are likely to increase with increased household size. The groups that are likely to experience increased rates of car theft include single adults with young children, single persons without children, and households with two unmarried persons. Homeowners are likely to exhibit low rates of motor vehicle thefts compared to renters. The other household types that experience low rates of motor vehicle theft include those living in hotels and mobile homes. Individuals residing in central cities are likely to experience higher rates of motor vehicle thefts compared to residents of non-metropolitan and suburban areas, when explored in the context of the number of registered vehicles or households. 

Occurrence of Motor Vehicle Thefts 

Factors Facilitating Successful Motor Vehicle Thefts 

Motor vehicle theft is aided by numerous strategies. Key among these strategies are those aimed at reducing the chances of apprehension by the police. Threats to successful motor vehicle theft are grouped into two, namely, formal and informal. 25 Informal threats refer to threats occasioned by the owners of the targeted motor vehicle, bystanders who may act as witnesses in the attempted or successful theft, or any other forms of surveillance that are likely to record the vehicle's theft. Formal threats, on the other hand, often occur when perpetrators are driving the stolen motor vehicle. An example of a formal threat is an encounter with a police officer while the thieves are driving away with the stolen car. Informal and formal threats are not only unpredictable but also more or less likely to be encountered. Due to the increased probability of an informal threat or encounter with a police officer, motor vehicle thieves have devised various strategies to avert them. 

Motor vehicle thieves are more concerned with formal threats as opposed to informal threats. Thus, evasion strategies are focused on the former as opposed to the latter. The most commonly used strategy for evading apprehension by the authorities while driving a stolen motor vehicle is the presentation of an illusion that everything is normal. 26 This is because the best strategies of avoiding apprehension include hiding in the open, engaging in impression management, and acting as if there was nothing wrong with them driving the stolen motor vehicle. The thieves are also likely to adjust their driving style with the aim of obeying all the traffic rules. This strategy ensures that the thieves do not give the police any reason for paying attention to the vehicle or its occupants. However, in some instances, observing all traffic rules strictly may be seen as uncommon and unnatural, in the process garnering attention from the police. The thieves thus have to balance their approaches to avoid police detection. Another essential strategy is the modification of appearance so as to best fit into the environment. In this regard, the thieves may attempt to dress up when they steal expensive cars. Some thieves may also deliberately steal vehicles that best fit their appearance to avoid suspicion. 

Most motor vehicle thieves are keen on ensuring that they cause minimal damage to the vehicle. For instance, any damage caused when breaking into a motor vehicle is likely to be noticed easily by law enforcement officers. Some perpetrators use such strategies as breaking into the vehicle using the passenger side, followed by driving on the right-hand lane. This strategy ensures that there is minimal exposure of the damage to any passing police cars. 27 In some instances, breaking of glass is limited only to small windows, especially those located towards the end of the car. Some thieves attempt to steal using fake keys since the damage caused to the steering column, in that case, would be minimal and thus unnoticeable. Master keys are also used in some cases. The cutting of such keys is characterized by a universal groove signature. Master keys are capable of fitting into a wide range of motor vehicle models. Thus, thieves in possession of master keys make an attempt to open the motor vehicles several times until they successfully gain access. Besides master keys, close-cousin keys may be used. 28 These keys are created by filing down keys that are usable in vehicles whose ignition disks are worn. Close-cousin keys work especially well with such Japanese models as Toyotas and Hondas. However, these keys are incapable of working in cars that have immobilizers. Overall, motor vehicle thieves vary, while the methods used to steal and avoid detection also vary. 

Environment and Timing 

The environment in which motor vehicle theft takes place plays a crucial role in determining whether or not the attempt will be successful or not. This is particularly because the environment influences the offender's behavior while his or her perspective affects the outcome of the crime. 29 Key community attributes that influence the environment within which a crime takes place include stability and poverty. Ultimately, rates of motor vehicle theft are high in regions that are characterized by increased ethnic and racial diversity. Thus, the diversity of ethnic groups residing in a given are not only impacted but also act as key predictors of motor vehicle theft. As a result, minorities and diversity are considered causes of crime. Also, there are various instances in which the existing community structure influences motor vehicle theft via provocation and imitation. For example, when minority groups are clustered in a single living environment with unknown territorial neighbors and little space, the occurrence of provocation is highly inevitable. Provocation undoubtedly results in retribution and crime. Also, once minorities are kept in a single clustered environment with numerous known neighbors, imitation of crime is also likely to occur. 

When a well-known person or close relative escapes from committing a motor vehicle theft in a particular environment, others are likely to imitate the crime. This occurs once the persons have seen the succession of the offender being rewarded without consequence or punishment. Another notable aspect of a community is the presence of clusters of cheap motor vehicles that can be accessed easily in a relatively poor community. Motor vehicles in poor neighborhoods are less likely to be luxurious. Besides being cheap, such vehicles may be characterized by easily accessible security systems. 30 These attributes enable thieves to gain easy access to these motor vehicles. Numerous factors correlate racial diversity and community status to crime. However, the above factors exemplify how low-level community environments offer the perfect conditions and settings for offenders to commit motor vehicle thefts. 

Both the attempted and completed motor vehicle thefts occur disproportionately at night. This is despite the fact that a higher percentage of successful compared to unsuccessful thefts take place during the day. About one out of every ten victims of motor vehicle theft rarely knows when the crime specifically took place. A majority of these crimes are also likely to take place when the targeted motor vehicle is unattended and outside. Likewise, most of these crimes take place when th vehicle in question is parked close to the owner’s home, in a non-commercial parking lot, or on the street. In a few cases of attempted or completed thefts, the vehicle was located in the owner's garage at home. The same applies to thefts taking place in commercial parking lots while the attendants were working. In other cases, household members are likely to be present at the immediate scene of the theft when the crime is taking place. Also, they may also be present during an attempted theft than a completed theft, in which case they may prevent or interrupt the act. Incase household members are present during a motor vehicle theft, they may be threatened or attacked. Thus, a higher percentage of victims of completed motor vehicle thefts are likely to encounter some form of force compared to attempted thefts. In some cases of attempted or completed motor vehicle thefts, household burglary may also be committed. Robbery or rape is also recorded in fewer cases. 

In majority of thefts, the stolen motor vehicle is a car. In other cases, it is a motorcycle, van, or truck. Among attempted thefts, cars are more likely to be the key targets compared to the completed thefts. In some completed motor vehicle thefts, the offenders are likely also to take other objects. Key among these objects include stereos, wallets, cash, small appliances, and purses, among others. When a motor vehicle theft involves another crime, the offenders are likely to take not only the vehicle but also other property. When another crime is committed besides motor vehicle theft, additional property is likely to be stolen. This differs from a scenario whereby only a motor vehicle is targeted. 

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