Joe Temper should have known better.
Joe
Temper
should
have
known
better
.
After all, he works for a large auto insurance company.
After
all
,
he
works
for
a
large
auto
insurance
company
.
It won't hurt to leave the key in the truck this once, he thought, as he filled his gas tank at a self-service gas station.
It
wo
n't
hurt
to
leave
the
key
in
the
truck
this
once
,
he
thought
,
as
he
filled
his
gas
tank
at
a
self-service
gas
station
.
But minutes later, as he was paying the money, he saw the truck being driven away.
But
minutes
later
,
as
he
was
paying
the
money
,
he
saw
the
truck
being
driven
away
.
In 2010, 1.6 million motor vehicles were stolen in the United States--one every 20 seconds.
In
2010
,
1.6
million
motor
vehicles
were
stolen
in
the
United
States
--
one
every
20
seconds
.
If present trends continue, experts predict vehicle thefts could be over two million every year by the end of the decade.
If
present
trends
continue
,
experts
predict
vehicle
thefts
could
be
over
two
million
every
year
by
the
end
of
the
decade
.
Vehicle theft is a common phenomenon, which has a direct effect on over four million people a year.
Vehicle
theft
is
a
common
phenomenon
,
which
has
a
direct
effect
on
over
four
million
people
a
year
.
The cost is astonishing.
The
cost
is
astonishing
.
Many police officials blame professional thieves for the large number of the thefts.
Many
police
officials
blame
professional
thieves
for
the
large
number
of
the
thefts
.
It is a major moneymaker for organized crime.
It
is
a
major
moneymaker
for
organized
crime
.
Typically, stolen cars are taken to pieces and the parts sold to individuals.
Typically
,
stolen
cars
are
taken
to
pieces
and
the
parts
sold
to
individuals
.
But as many as 200,000 cars are smuggled out of the country every year.
But
as
many
as
200,000
cars
are
smuggled
out
of
the
country
every
year
.
Most go to Latin America, the Middle East and Europe.
Most
go
to
Latin
America
,
the
Middle
East
and
Europe
.
Only about 15 percent car thefts result in an arrest, because few police departments specially conduct in depth auto investigations.
Only
about
15
percent
car
thefts
result
in
an
arrest
,
because
few
police
departments
specially
conduct
in
depth
auto
investigations
.
When thieves are arrested, judges will often sentence them to probation, not immediately put them in prison because the prisons are overcrowded with violent criminals.
When
thieves
are
arrested
,
judges
will
often
sentence
them
to
probation
,
not
immediately
put
them
in
prison
because
the
prisons
are
overcrowded
with
violent
criminals
.
One exception is a Michigan program that calls for 92 police officers to work full time on the state's 65,000 car theft cases a year.
One
exception
is
a
Michigan
program
that
calls
for
92
police
officers
to
work
full
time
on
the
state
's
65,000
car
theft
cases
a
year
.
Since 2006, when the effort began, the state's auto theft rate has fallen from second in the nation to ninth.
Since
2006
,
when
the
effort
began
,
the
state
's
auto
theft
rate
has
fallen
from
second
in
the
nation
to
ninth
.
How can you protect your car?
How
can
you
protect
your
car
?
If you live in a high theft area or drive an expensive model, consider a safety system.
If
you
live
in
a
high
theft
area
or
drive
an
expensive
model
,
consider
a
safety
system
.
It may cost anywhere from $25 to $1,000.
It
may
cost
anywhere
from
$
25
to
$
1,000
.
Some systems work automatically - simply removing the key disables the fuel pump and the starter.
Some
systems
work
automatically
-
simply
removing
the
key
disables
the
fuel
pump
and
the
starter
.
When cars are equipped with such systems, thefts may drop by one third.
When
cars
are
equipped
with
such
systems
,
thefts
may
drop
by
one
third
.
In some states, you may be able to use a device that transmits radio signals, allowing stolen cars to be tracked by police.
In
some
states
,
you
may
be
able
to
use
a
device
that
transmits
radio
signals
,
allowing
stolen
cars
to
be
tracked
by
police
.
Joe Temper should have known better. After all, he works for a large auto insurance company. It won't hurt to leave the key in the truck this once, he thought, as he filled his gas tank at a self-service gas station. But minutes later, as he was paying the money, he saw the truck being driven away.  In 2010, 1.6 million motor vehicles were stolen in the United States--one every 20 seconds. If present trends continue, experts predict vehicle thefts could be over two million every year by the end of the decade.  Vehicle theft is a common phenomenon, which has a direct effect on over four million people a year. The cost is astonishing.  Many police officials blame professional thieves for the large number of the thefts. It is a major moneymaker for organized crime. Typically, stolen cars are taken to pieces and the parts sold to individuals. But as many as 200,000 cars are smuggled out of the country every year. Most go to Latin America, the Middle East and Europe.  Only about 15 percent car thefts result in an arrest, because few police departments specially conduct in depth auto investigations. When thieves are arrested, judges will often sentence them to probation, not immediately put them in prison because the prisons are overcrowded with violent criminals.  One exception is a Michigan program that calls for 92 police officers to work full time on the state's 65,000 car theft cases a year. Since 2006, when the effort began, the state's auto theft rate has fallen from second in the nation to ninth.  How can you protect your car? If you live in a high theft area or drive an expensive model, consider a safety system. It may cost anywhere from $25 to $1,000. Some systems work automatically - simply removing the key disables the fuel pump and the starter. When cars are equipped with such systems, thefts may drop by one third. In some states, you may be able to use a device that transmits radio signals, allowing stolen cars to be tracked by police.