Every 45-seconds a car is stolen in the United States! That’s a staggering statistic! And here, in Southern California, there’s definitely no exception.

Just think of how many Brainiacs we watch “Live” on the local news who somehow think they’re actually going to escape the police; their cars, helicopters, dogs, and spike-strips. (Which actually begs a few questions about us as a society – but that’s an entirely different topic. Why are we so fascinated by that spectacle?)

This week’s iDSC Podcast focuses on useful tips to protect your vehicle from theft and keep you safe out there, on those crazy streets of America. Click Play below to find out how to prevent auto-theft, how thieves think and what they’re looking for.

***Transcript***

Recorded July 11, 2018, Los Angeles, CA

A Car is Stolen Every 45-seconds!

Doug Shupe: A vehicle is stolen every 45 seconds. You know, thieves are actually looking through parking lots. They're looking for you to make a mistake, leave something valuable in your vehicle. Always lock your vehicle and close the windows. Don't leave them half open. Never leave belongings out in plain view

Tom Smith: Welcome to iDriveSoCal, the podcast all about mobility from the automotive capital of the United States, Southern California. Tom Smith here with Doug Shupe, the Senior Public Affairs Specialist of the Auto Club of Southern California. Most of us know them by AAA. Doug, thanks for joining me again.

Doug Shupe: Thanks, Tom, for having me.

Tom Smith: The topic that we're covering today is, as it gets hotter out, and we're out on the roads, for some reason, more carjackings, more issues on the road. Is that a typical stat? Is there a seasonality to it, or is that just something that maybe is perceived?

Doug Shupe: Well, when it comes to vehicle theft, we typically see those on the rise, you know, when a lot of people are out on the move. They're parking in different places that they wouldn't normally park. But a vehicle is stolen every 45 seconds here in the United States. I mean, that's incredible.

Tom Smith: Every 45 seconds?

Vehicle Theft is Still a Very Common Crime

Doug Shupe: Every 45 seconds, there's a vehicle stolen in the United States. And although the auto theft rates have declined in recent years, car theft is still a very common crime. And it's a crime of opportunity. If you give a criminal the opportunity to steal your car, they're going to take.

Tom Smith: Now, we have ... Let's categorize it. There's stealing my car, but then, there's also breaking into my car.

Doug Shupe: Yes, they're very different.

Tom Smith: Those are the two, right?

Doug Shupe: Auto theft. There's auto theft that we see.

Tom Smith: Right.

Doug Shupe: There is auto burglary, and you know. And auto burglaries happen when people leave stuff inside of their vehicle-.

Tom Smith: Right.

Doug Shupe: ... in plain sight. And it's very, you know ... It's appealing to a thief.

Tom Smith: Yup.

Doug Shupe: This happens a lot of times during the holiday season when people were out there shopping, and they've got shopping bags.

Theives Take Advantage of Opportunity

Tom Smith: So then, it's not necessarily ... So, I have ... And that's what I was trying to get in the beginning. I have a perception that, "Okay, summertime, it seems to happen more." But that's just my perception. It's not necessarily a summertime thing. There's not a seasonality to it. Yeah?

Doug Shupe: It happens every day.

Tom Smith: All the time.

Doug Shupe: Unfortunately. And auto theft, really, is what we were talking about. Every 45 seconds, a car is stolen.