IRVING, Texas, June 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vehicle thefts
among Allstate insured Texans dropped 2.5 percent last year, but
the cars being snapped off the street are heading farther south of
the border—even overseas. That's why the state's second largest
auto insurer and police are urging drivers to tag and track their
vehicles.
"More stolen vehicles are going as far as Guatemala and Honduras, even overseas, making them tougher
to recover," said Sergeant Trinidad
Salazar, with the Houston
Police Department. "Stolen trucks and SUVs sent across the border
are typically being used for human and drug smuggling. Stolen
vehicles sent overseas are used for multiple reasons, including
terrorism. That's why it's important for the public to know how
complex theft has become to drive home the seriousness of the
issue."
Auto Theft Breakdown by City
Allstate's numbers include partial, recovered and unrecovered
vehicle thefts. Partial thefts involve parts stolen from a vehicle,
recovered thefts are stolen vehicles that are found and unrecovered
thefts are stolen vehicles that are never found. While Allstate's
statewide auto theft number dropped overall in 2009, some major
Texas cities saw increases.
|
|
City
|
Percentage Change from 2008 to
2009
|
|
Austin
|
+12.9%
|
|
Dallas-Fort Worth
|
-2.2%
|
|
El Paso
|
-20.2%
|
|
Houston
|
+15.6%
|
|
Rio Grande Valley
|
+6.2%
|
|
San Antonio
|
-21.9%
|
|
Tyler-Longview
|
+9.3%
|
|
Waco-Temple-Killeen
|
-10%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top Texas Vehicles Stolen
Trucks dominated the list of stolen Allstate insured vehicles in
Texas last year:
|
|
Rank
|
Vehicle
|
|
1
|
Dodge Ram Pickup (2004)
|
|
2
|
Ford F150 (1997)
|
|
3
|
Honda Civic (2000)
|
|
4
|
Honda Accord (1994)
|
|
5
|
Chevrolet Extended Cab 4X2 Pickup
(1997)
|
|
6
|
Ford F250 Pickup (2004)
|
|
7
|
Chevrolet Conventional Cab 4x2 Pickup
(1988)
|
|
8
|
Ford F350 Pickup (2006)
|
|
9
|
Ford Taurus (1997)
|
|
10
|
Ford Explorer (2002)
|
|
|
|
|
|
"No matter where you live or what you drive, car thefts impact
us all," said Oscar Meza, an
Allstate agent in the Houston
area. "Vehicle theft is the number one property crime in the
country, costing Americans – even those who are not direct victims
– about $7.6 billion a year in higher
auto insurance premiums, amounting to $200-300 for every policy holder each year.
That's why it's critical to be vigilant and practice common sense
when it comes to parking your car."
Auto theft specialists at Allstate recommend five tips to throw
off thieves.
Park Smart:
Park in a populated, well-lit area. Auto thieves do not like
witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots.
Hide Your Things:
Don't make your car a more desirable target for thieves by
leaving valuables in plain sight. Put them in the trunk or take
them with you.
Lock-Up:
Almost half of all vehicles stolen were left unlocked and one
out of every five vehicles stolen had the keys in it. Roll up
windows, lock-up doors and take your keys.
Make Your Mark:
VIN etching—a permanent engraving of a vehicle's federally
registered vehicle identification number (VIN) on its
windshield—makes it tougher for a thief to resell or take your
vehicle across the border without replacing the marked glass.
Keep Track:
High-tech tracking devices can alert you—and law enforcement—the
moment an unauthorized user moves your vehicle.
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest
publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the
"You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate is
reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17 million
households insure what they have today and better prepare for
tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products and services
through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate
exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and
1-800 Allstate®.
SOURCE The Allstate Corporation