Why is car theft such a common crime?

Question

I would rather walk than steal a car.

Answer 1

There is not one simple reason. There are different motives for people to steal cars.

I'm not an expert on crime statistics, however it seems safe to presume the following list are common motives:

1) financial gain
2) joy rides
3) in order to provide transportation
4) abuse of what began as authorized use.
5) insurance fraud
6) in order to commit another crime (who wants to do a bank robbery in their own car)

Another list of reasons it is common:

1) cars are left unlocked
2) cars are left running, even for a short while.
3) there is a big market for cars / cars parts

My car was stolen when i left it running at the gas pump on a cold night. I walked right past the guy standing out in the cold. As I was paying, I saw him get in. I ran out and could only beat on the car as he drove off leaving me standing in the cold.

Answer 2

It's all about the bling baby!!! About half of the cars that are stolen are returned to the owner in one shape or the other. They steal them to ride around in, commit crimes in and then dump them. The other half of once stolen are dismantled and the parts are sold which is easier than unloading a two ton hot car. You can buy so many hot car stereos on ebay it's ridiculous. There is another small percentage of insurance cases, where the owner reports his car stolen, then torches it and then collects the $ from the insurance company. Hope this helps =-)

Answer 3

People don't steal cars because they are lazy and don't wish to walk. They steal them to make money. Car parts are worth more than the cars themselves. Plus there are so many cars on the road that are identical makes and colors that getting caught is almost impossible.

Answer 4

Because you can take the car to a chop shop, where they take apart a stolen car and sell the parts outside the country. My buddy William lived across the street from a chop shop, until the police raided it and shut it down.

Answer 5

It's so common because it is so easy. All you need is a spark plug and a screwdriver. I work for a LEA in the Atlanta area and that is what our theives here use.

Answer 6

Its all about the $$$$$$ cars fetch high prices, especially sports cars.

Answer 7

cars are plenty; breaking, entering & hotwiring are easy... lots of ways to quickly sell the car and make a quick profit.

Answer 8

. i assume a hog grew to become into in user-friendly terms a hog in them days....for the time of the super melancholy, possessing chickens gave you eggs, you ought to consume daily from some chickens, slaughter a hen and you lost a element of that source

Answer 9

There's big money in them there stolen cars.

Answer 10

Because people dont secure their vehicles properly and consistently.