According to a police chief, Montgomery County police received nearly 225 reports of stolen vehicles. The number of thefts has increased by 9 percent when compared to previous year, while there is only a small increase in the number of murders, rapes and assaults. In the county a total of 2,258 vehicles were stolen but police was able to solve only 267 auto theft cases. The items that are stolen from the vehicle have increased by 17.2 percent when compared to last year. There was a significant rise in the number of burglaries and robberies committed by gangs last year. In the year 2008, there were nearly 2,623 residential burglaries, up 73 from the year before. County Executive Ike Leggett has increased the public safety budget by $.4 million and the county will lose about $23,000 grants for vehicle theft prevention efforts.

Every day in the District of Columbia, approximately 18 vehicles are stolen. These stolen vans, cars, motorcycles, and trucks cost victims time and money, as well as increase everyone’s insurance premiums. Often, stolen vehicles are used to commit other crimes.

The Metropolitan Police Department recommends a “layered approach” to protecting your vehicle. The theory is that the more “layers of protection” you use, the more difficult your vehicle will be to steal. Read the MPDC’s Layered Approach to auto theft prevention.

Read the additional information for auto theft prevention below:

1. Consumer Tips
2. What Is a VIN Number?
3. Types of VIN Scams

Consumer Tips

* Look closely at the vehicle identification number (VIN) plate, located on the driver’s side of the dashboard, to see if it appears tampered with.
* Never buy a used car without getting the vehicle’s title or pink slip at the time you buy it, in person. Double-check the VIN with the number listed on the title, the registration papers, and the federal certification label on the driver’s side door.
* Ask to see identification of the person who is selling you the car; record his/her name, address, phone number, and driver’s license number. Call the phone number before you buy the car. Often, scam artists will provide the phone number of a pay phone.

What Is a VIN Number?

Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) are serial numbers for vehicles that are used to differentiate similar makes and models. Similar to social security numbers, every vehicle has a unique VIN. VIN plates are located on the dashboard and can be viewed through the windshield. Law enforcement agencies use VINs to determine if a vehicle has an active theft record.

Types of VIN Scams

VIN Switch: Thieves use VIN switching to disguise the identity of a stolen vehicle. They will replace the VIN on a stolen vehicle with a VIN that is not recorded as stolen. The thief will then try to resell the stolen car to an unsuspecting customer. Some VIN switchers will also create fraudulent titles and registrations to go along with the vehicle.
Salvage Switch: A vehicle that is extensively damaged, burned, or stripped, and determined not to be eligible for repair is called “salvaged.” Thieves use phony identification to buy a salvaged vehicle just to obtain the title and the VIN.
Strip and Run: This is another scam that thieves use to disguise a stolen car. In this situation, a car thief steals a car, strips it for the parts, then abandons it.

Vehicle thefts have reduced in Michigan in 2007 and stealing a vehicle by hot-wiring is far less common. Between 1986 and 2007, the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority reports, vehicle theft in Michigan dropped 42%. While hot-wire thefts have dropped 16.5 % from 2006 to 2007 in Michigan. According to 2007 figures, thefts in Detroit dropped 14.2 in percentage. By numbers it has reduced from 22,918 to 19,655. Drop in thefts in Detroit was mainly due to a new policy introduced by police officials that people should report auto thefts in person rather than by phone. Troy is a few places where thefts increased to 15.6% from 2006 to 2007. Most of the vehicles were stolen on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the months of August, July and June. To prevent thefts, drivers should lock their doors while driving to thwart carjacking, avoid leaving GPS devices, music players or chargers in vehicles.