HARRISBURG – Over the past 14 years, since the creation of the Auto Theft Prevention Authority, auto thefts in Pennsylvania are down 51 percent, which is more than double that of the national average, the Attorney General’s Office announced during a news conference.
Attorney General Tom Corbett, whose office serves as chairman of the Authority, said that in 1994, the State Legislature established the Auto Theft Prevention Authority and gave it the power and the mandate to establish, coordinate and fund activities in Pennsylvania to prevent, combat and reduce auto theft.
Corbett and PA State Police Commissioner Colonel Jeffrey Miller and Authority Board Members announced at a Harrisburg news conference that since the Authority’s inception, more than $60 million has gone to fund specialized law enforcement, auto theft units, prosecutors, equipment, training and public outreach efforts. These efforts are funded by the industry through annual assessments to over 400 auto insurance companies in Pennsylvania.
“We have taken a team approach to fighting auto thefts in Pennsylvania,” Corbett said. “Everyone, from law enforcement, to the Authority, to the insurance industry, to the legislators, have joined together to tackle the problem of auto theft from every angle, and the results have been nothing short of impressive.”
“This team approach not only has proven to be very successful, it has proven to be a formidable force in fighting crime,” Corbett said. “In just one year, from 2006 to 2007, Pennsylvania had a 10 percent reduction in auto theft.”
In 1994, 52,306 vehicles were stolen in Pennsylvania. Last year that number was down to 25,807, which is a 51 percent drop, since legislation was passed enacting the Authority.
Corbett said that nationally, auto theft has also dropped, but not at the same dramatic rate. From 1994 to 2006, auto theft was down only 23 percent nationally.
“Our efforts in Pennsylvania were more than double the national trend,” Corbett said. “Using just the raw figures on the value of these stolen vehicles, this success translates into millions of dollars saved.”
Corbett said that from 2006 to 2007 the reduction in auto theft meant an annual savings of over $19.5 million to the people of Pennsylvania. Since 1994, the savings has been more than $96 million.
In addition to the percentage of stolen vehicles being down, the number of recovered stolen vehicles has greatly increased. In 2007 alone, law enforcement recovered stolen vehicles worth $42.2 million and parts estimated at $1.3 million.
“Since the inception of the Authority, $341 million in stolen vehicles and parts have been recovered, which is a savings to every single driver in Pennsylvania,” Corbett said.
The Authority currently funds 12 law enforcement grantees across Pennsylvania, whose stated purpose is to investigate and prosecute auto thefts. They are also responsible for funding two public outreach programs, aimed at reaching the “at-risk” juvenile offenders and aimed at educating the public on how they can protect themselves against this crime.
Corbett said that the Authority has also reached out to the public by initiating a number of unique public awareness efforts. They conducted VINgraving events, driver education programs and formed a strategic partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles to get the message out through sporting and tailgating events.
“We have reached a milestone by reducing auto theft in Pennsylvania by more than 50 percent,” State Police Commissioner Colonel Jeffrey Miller said. “We can reduce this even further by joining forces with Pennsylvania citizens and having them take the basic steps to protect themselves against auto theft.”
“It is extremely evident that these efforts have been successful,” Corbett said. “We will continue to be proactive in searching for new and innovated ways to reduce the auto theft rates in Pennsylvania even further.”
Corbett noted that tips for protecting yourself against auto theft are available by visiting here.
Regional auto theft statistics are below.
Central PA
Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Perry and York
Central PA’s theft rate went down 8 percent from 2006 to 2007
2007: 1,821 thefts, about 7 percent of state-wide thefts
2006: 1,973 thefts, about 7 percent of state-wide theftsArea serviced by ATPA grantees: Pennsylvania State Police Central Auto Theft Task Force, Harrisburg City Police, Lancaster City Police and York County District Attorney’s Office
Southeast PA
Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia
Southeast PA’s theft rate went down 8 percent from 2006 to 2007
2007: 15,845 thefts, about 61 percent of state-wide thefts
2006: 17,196 thefts, about 60 percent of state-wide thefts
Area serviced by ATPA grantees: Pennsylvania State Police Central and Eastern Auto Theft Task Forces, Philadelphia City Police and Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.
Northeast PA
Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Schuylkill, Monroe and Northampton
Northeast PA’s theft rate went down 14 percent from 2006 to 2007
2007: 2,000 thefts, about 8 percent of state-wide thefts
2006: 2,331 thefts, about 8 percent of state-wide thefts
Area service by ATPA grantees: Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office. Northeastern Pennsylvania Task Force and Pennsylvania State Police Central and Eastern Task Forces.
Western PA
Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Mercer, Washington and Westmorland
Western PA’s theft rate went down 18 percent from 2006 to 2007
2007: 4,100 thefts, about 16 percent of state-wide thefts
2006: 4,998 thefts, about 17 percent of state-wide thefts
Area service by ATPA grantees: Pittsburgh City Police, Pennsylvania State Police Western Task Force and Erie City Police