The “LoDown” on Car Theft in Seattle

  • November 29, 2016

Seattle is known for its trendsetting music scene, great coffee, and its iconic Space Needle. Many of us may not associate Seattle with auto theft. But the facts tell a different story.

The greater Seattle area ranked in the top ten for total number of vehicle thefts in the US with over 17,000 stolen vehicles reported in 2015, per the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report. What’s more, the FBI data revealed that Seattle’s auto theft rate was 469 per 100,000 inhabitants.

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Auto theft is on the rise in the US with a theft occurring every 44.5 seconds. The general perception by many vehicle owners is that auto theft is a problem “out of sight, out of mind.”

LoJack’s “LoDown With LoJack” campaign is highlighting several key metropolitan areas, starting with Seattle, where auto theft is a bigger problem than many people recognize.

Visit go.lojack.com/Seattle to watch our new video, which discusses auto theft in Seattle, and also the fact that the nature of auto theft is changing.

Thirty years ago, thieves relied on hotwiring and using coat hangers to steal cars. Today’s thieves have employed much bolder schemes and are using the advanced technologies in our cars for access. New tactics they’re employing include reprograming a vehicle via the on board diagnostic system, cloning a key fob remote, and VIN cloning.

These tactics enable thieves to net bigger profits with the average dollar loss for victims per stolen vehicle rising seven percent from $6,537 in 2014 to $7,001 in 2015. Fortunately, there are many prevention, recovery and common sense measures to combat these thieves. Parking in a well-lit area can often times mean the difference between returning to your car or returning to an empty spot. Not leaving your engine running while you drop off a package or retrieve something may be an inconvenience, but can reduce the risk of your car being stolen.

To learn more about LoJack and to view recent vehicle recovery stories, be sure to visit our Auto Theft Blog each month, and ‘Like’ us on Facebook.