Historical Analysis of Auto Thefts in New York, Massachusetts

Auto thefts in New York and Massachusetts have fallen by 90 percent or more from their peak years, according to a historical analysis by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

From its peak auto theft year in 1990 when 187,591 vehicles were stolen, New York has experienced a significant decline ending 2013 with 15,482 thefts, representing a reduction of 92 percent, NICB said.

From 1965 through 1994, with the exception of 1986 when Texas was in second place, New York has ranked second to California as the state with the most annual vehicle thefts. But since then, no other state has enjoyed as dramatic a decline in thefts as New York. NICB said New York vehicle thefts skyrocketed beginning in 1985 before peaking in 1990 and falling off precipitously — a downward trend that continued through 2013.

In Massachusetts, from its peak auto theft year in 1975 when 91,563 vehicles were stolen, the state has experienced a significant decline ending 2013 with 9,122 thefts. That’s a reduction of 90 percent.

Massachusetts had dramatic increases in vehicle thefts beginning in 1960 and continuing through 1975 when they reached their peak. A declining trend started in 1976 and thefts have decreased just as dramatically before leveling off in the mid-1980s. In 1994 another downward trend began that continued through 2013.

Like other states, New York and Massachusetts authorities employed some innovative law enforcement programs, among them the use of bait cars and license plate readers. In short, technology has had a huge positive impact.

Furthermore, auto manufacturers have been outfitting vehicles with more and more theft prevention products — from smart keys to immobilizers to tracking systems. So vehicles today are much harder to steal and that is good news for everyone who owns a vehicle, NICB said.