New Year's Day Is Top Car Theft Day
While you're out celebrating, others are out stealing your car. Especially if it's New Year's Day.
New Year's Day was the top holiday for reported car thefts in 2010, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). It fell just ahead of Memorial Day and Halloween, which came in second and third.
Thieves seem to be taking advantage of widespread inebriation.
Actually, they're probably taking advantage of a car owner's decision not to drink and drive. People often opt for a taxi, leaving their cars in strange places on New Year's Eve, according to the NICB. The cars become prime targets at 4 a.m.
They can also become targets earlier in the night. New Year's Eve is number 5 on the list of top holidays for car theft.
The best way to prevent a holiday car theft is to not drive your car. Leave it at home, locked in the garage or in your driveway. Make arrangements to taxi to and from your destination. Not only will your car be safe, you won't hate yourself in the morning when you can't remember where it is.
If you have to drive your car, the NICB offers these tips:
- Leave your car in a well-lit, populated area.
- Triple-check that it's locked and the windows are rolled up.
- Remove valuable items.
- Detach your battery cables and enable a GPS tracking device.
We hope that you don't fall prey to a holiday car theft this season. And that you remember not to drink and drive.
Related Resources:
- New Year's is the worst day for car thefts (WDIV-TV)
- Dude, Where's My Car? What to Do When Your Car Is Stolen (FindLaw's Common Law)
- Owner Sued by Victims of Stolen Car Crash (FindLaw's Injured)