Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
WESTWOOD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A new AAA study revealed that car thefts increase during the summer months more than any other time of year.
Every year, more than 1 million Americans experience a scenario of vehicle theft. Since 2019, motor vehicle theft has gone up by more than 25 percent according to FBI data.
AAA also says that “every 31 seconds in the United States, a car or truck is stolen thanks to increasingly sophisticated methods used by criminals to drive off with someone else’s vehicle.”
Read More: AAA Advises Americans To Discuss Driving Safety With Older Family Members
A recent report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau showed that vehicle thefts reached a peak in 2023.
Social media trends demonstrating how to steal specific models of Hyundai and Kia vehicles are also suspected to be a contributing factor to the rise in car thefts, specifically because “many models were not equipped with immobilizing equipment at the factory”, according to AAA.
Here are some of the tips that the AAA recommends for drivers to prevent a stolen car:
- Park with your windows up and door locked. When not at home, be sure your key fob is with you at all times.
- Park in well-lit areas and ideally in an area protected by security cameras.
- Remove all valuables from your car and keep anything that must be in the car out of view. Theft of items left in vehicles is a widespread problem- not just theft of cars themselves.
- Consider a tracking device to locate your car if it does get stolen.
- Store key fobs as far away from the vehicle as possible when parked.
- Don’t leave your vehicle running and unattended, even if your vehicle is locked.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok