While national car thefts are decreasing, the Twin Cities are bucking the trend as they’ve seen an increase in cases of Grand Theft Auto.
According to police documents there were 841 reported cases of car thefts in St. Paul between August and November of this year, meaning about 210 cars were stolen each month or seven cars a day.
St. Paul police spokesman Paul Paulos said thieves are no longer interested in the allure of a bike. He says they’d rather steal a vehicle.
“The numbers fit the times,” he said. “Why take a bike when you can break into a car, take it, drive it a couple blocks and dump it?”
Crimes of Opportunity
Despite what Hollywood shows us on the big screen, thieves don’t usually McGyver their way into the car and speed away by hotwiring the engine. Instead, most thieves strike because the victim left their doors unlocked and their keys in their car, or worse, they left their car running while making a quick pit stop.
“I was just running in,” said Chase Berndt, whose car was stolen last week. “I didn’t think I need to lock it since I was going to be right back.”
Police told Berndt that older models like the Toyota he was driving are usually sold for parts, and they are rarely recovered intact.
Mark Kulda, vice president of public affairs for the Insurance Federation of Minnesota, said thieves are targeting older vehicles with less theft-protection technologies.
“People think you’re going to steal the really hot-looking car, and that’s not true,” Kulda said. “It’s going to be (the) kinds of cars (that) need parts.”
Apparently thieves really needed parts to Honda Accords, as the 1996 model was the most stolen car in Minnesota in 2012. Kulda also noted that stealing newer cars is no easy task, as many come with a smart key or a fob that need to be in the vehicle for it to start.
Top Cities for Car Thefts
Although Grand Theft Auto crimes have risen in St. Paul, the Twin Cities are still well below the top cities for car thefts. You’re much more likely to have your ride jacked in California, as the state boasts nine of the top 10 cities with the highest auto theft rates.
1. Bakersfield, CA.
2. Fresno, CA.
3. Modesto, CA.
4. San Francisco, CA.
5. Stockton-Lodi, CA.
6. Redding, CA.
7. Spokane, WA.
8. Vellejo-Fairfield, CA.
9. San Jose, CA.
10. Yuba City, CA.
Minneapolis-St. Paul comes is a 131st on the list, with 184 auto thefts per 100,000 people. The Twin Cities reported 6,364 auto thefts in 2013.
Related source: Pioneer Press
