Missouri Insurers Say 20,000 Vehicles Stolen in 2008

July 29, 2009

  • July 29, 2009 at 3:04 am
    Dread says:
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    Since joining the p&c insurance industry auto theft has been nothing more than mere plantar wart on the body of society. With the possible exception of a few dedicated and effective anti-theft units within the ranks of the police, there’s been too much talk and no action to remedy the problem. Missouri’s results translates to 54 cars per day being stolen at an average severity of $7,000. OK, the thiefs lack good taste in automobiles since they focus on the junk engineered and built by the big three. The flip side is cracking down on auto theft is bad for the economy. Everytime a vehicle gets stolen, the owner has to buy another vehicle. If insurance is involved, there’s rental car agencies. If the car is recovered, there’s towing and storage facilites and body shops who will repair the car. (often with its own parts).

    Auto theft is considered a misdemeanor and thieves have no fear of getting caught because NOBODY prosecutes. Anyone who steal a car deprives the owner of the ability to get to a job, medical appointments, and recreation. In the old days horse thieves were summarily hung. So why does the public tolerate this? The focus is on the wrong issues, like car theives.

    Take the profit motive out of stealing cars and the problem goes away. 25 years ago I suggested the industry refuse to utilize “used parts” in the repair of stolen/recovered cars, and to refuse to sell “total loss” vehicles and relinquish the title. They didn’t like the idea because it would increase some repair costs in the short term, and hit their salvage results. Sometimes, society is a victim of itself.

  • July 29, 2009 at 4:52 am
    Steal American says:
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    Hey, at least they’re keeping the thefts domestic. Probably sending them to China!



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