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ALBANY, N.Y.—The New York Insurance Association (NYIA) has presented the results of a recent NICB paper that claims that Buffalo – Niagara Falls metropolitan area has the highest vehicle theft rate in New York State and the Ithaca metro area has the lowest theft rate in the state. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported that the ten Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in New York State with the highest vehicle thefts on a per capita basis for 2009 are: NYIA said that each year NICB analysts review vehicle theft data obtained from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) for each of the nation’s MSAs. MSAs are designated by the Office of Management and Budget and often include areas much larger than the cities for which they are named. The rate is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants.

 

Ellen Melchionni, president of NYIA, pointed out that the vehicle theft rates of MSAs in New York State are far below the national norm. “The vehicle theft rates in the metropolitan areas of New York State rank in the lower one-half of the nation,” she said. “Even Buffalo-Niagara Falls, the metropolitan area with the highest vehicle theft rate in New York State, is 182 out of the 366 MSAs in the NICB report, and Ithaca ranks second to last of all MSAs in the nation.”

 

Melchionni pointed out that of the 12 MSAs in New York State, nine reported lower thefts in 2009 than they experienced in 2008. Only the Kingston, Glens Falls and Elmira MSAs reported an increase. A complete list of New York State MSAs and their rankings is attached.

 

Melchionni said that the lower theft rates are a reflection of the commitment of the insurance industry and law enforcement to crack down on theft and the awareness of drivers that they can take steps to prevent their vehicles from being stolen.

 

“This good news does not mean anyone in New York should relax their vigilance,” Melchionni said. NYIA and the NICB recommend the following actions under a “layered approach” to vehicle theft protection. Insurance professionals would do well to relay to their insureds and staff these pointers:

 

Common Sense—An unlocked vehicle with a key in the ignition is an open invitation to any thief, regardless of which anti-theft device you use. This common sense approach to protection is the simplest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves. Secure your vehicle even if parking for brief periods. You should always:

 

Remove your keys from the ignition.

 

• Lock your doors/close your windows

 

• Park in a well-lit area

 

Warning Device—The second layer of protection is a visible or audible device that alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected. Popular second layer devices include:

 

• Audible alarms

 

• Steering column collars

 

• Steering wheel/brake pedal lock

 

• Brake locks

 

• Wheel locks

 

• Tire locks/tire deflators

 

• Theft deterrent decals

 

• Identification markers in or on a vehicle

 

• VIN etching

 

• Micro dot marking

 

Immobilizing Device—The third layer of protection is a device which prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated.

 

Popular third layer devices include:

 

• Smart keys

 

• Fuse cut-offs

 

• Kill switches

 

• Starter, ignition, and fuel pump disablers

 

• Wireless ignition authentication Tracking Device—The final layer of protection is a tracking device which emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ “telematics” which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.

 

The National Insurance Crime Bureau is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through information analysis, investigations, training and public awareness.

 

Looking back here are recent years’ results.