CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT

1996 ANNUAL REPORT

AUTO THEFT

Defined as the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle, this offense category includes the theft of automobiles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, motor scooters, and snowmobiles. This definition excludes the taking of a motor vehicle for temporary use by persons having lawful access.

Considered the most serious common larceny, Auto Theft has been on a steady decline in Cambridge since the mid-1970s. Nationally, on the other hand, Auto Theft has steadily increased during the same period-primarily in the southern and western states. Statistics for Auto Theft are considered highly reliable because almost all of the thefts are reported.

In 1996, Cambridge experienced 544 incidents of Auto Theft-498 thefts and 46 attempted thefts. This represents a 2.5 percent decline from 1995's total. The 1996 Auto Theft index is the lowest in 35 years-about a tenth of what it was in 1974, when we had over 5,000 thefts. Each year, we expect that it has reached the lowest point possible, and each year it surprises us by decreasing even further.

The Governor's Auto Theft Task Force and the Department's own preventive patrol operations can be partially credited for this dramatic decrease. Recent crackdowns on "chop shops" and insurance fraud are also significant factors, as are recent advances in personal automobile security and enhanced stolen vehicle computer tracking systems.

Geographic Breakdown of Auto Theft

Auto Theft rarely exhibits any distinctive patterns, though certain areas of the city tend to become "hot spots" over time. These "hot spots" occur, quite logically, where large numbers of automobiles are left parked for a long period of time. These areas include the parking lots at M.I.T. (particularly along Vassar Street), the hotels along Memorial Drive, the Rindge Towers, the Cambridgeside Galleria and its vicinity, Harvard Square, Porter Square, Central Square, and other scattered parking areas. Areas with heavy commercial traffic also have a high number of vehicles stolen off the street; this is less of a problem in solely residential areas-though residential areas in Cambridgeport and East Cambridge are traditionally hit quite hard with the crime.

The makes and models of automobiles stolen have remained fairly consistent over the past several years: Toyota vehicles reign, accounting for 16 percent (82) of the 498 vehicles stolen in 1996. Honda, Chevrolet, and Ford were also high, accounting for 10 to 15 percent each. The Honda Accord was the most targeted model, followed by the Toyota Camry and the Toyota Corolla. These vehicles ranked third, first, and second, respectively, last year. The most common model year for stolen vehicles was 1986. Expensive, newer-model cars show only a few thefts per year.

Automobiles Stolen by Model Year

Most incidents of auto theft-including those in Cambridge-fall into one of six categories:

For Profit: Auto thieves of this category steal cars intending to sell them to unscrupulous used car dealers, "chop shops," or, using falsified registration papers, to honest dealers. Thieves of this sort range from rings of professionals who steal several cars at a time to small-time amateurs. Since the parts of a car are generally worth more than the whole, "For Profit" thieves target commonly owned automobiles-the parts for which are in ready demand. Cars stolen for profit are rarely recovered. Crackdowns on organized auto theft rings have diminished this type of theft. It probably accounts for 20 to 25 percent of the thefts in 1996.

 

For Keeps: Some thieves steal cars intending to keep them for their personal use. They repaint or otherwise disguise the car, and perhaps falsify a registration and Vehicle Identification Number. Such cars are only recovered when an officer chances to verify a registration, or when the thief decides to steal another one. Thefts of this type account for only a small number-perhaps three percent-each year in Cambridge.

 

Joyriding: Joyriders, who are usually teenagers, steal cars to feel the power, prestige, and enjoyment associated with owning a car. Generally, after a night of wild riding, they dump the car-perhaps taking the stereo or other valuable items. Most cars stolen by joyriders are soon recovered, and the young thieves are often arrested. Joyriders usually look for common, older model vehicles, which tend to be less conspicuous. Joyriders account for 30 to 40 percent of vehicles stolen in Cambridge, and for about 75 percent of all auto theft arrests.

 

Transportation: Similar to joyriding, transportation thefts involve thieves who steal a car simply to get from one place to another. Having completed the journey, they dump it in a parking lot or on the side of the road. Cars of this sort are often recovered in other states. Like joyriders, these thieves look for inconspicuous, commonly owned cars. About 20 percent of all Cambridge auto thefts are for transportation use.

 

Commission of a Crime: A small number of auto thieves intend to use the stolen cars in the commission of another crime, such as robbery or burglary. Once again, these thieves look towards older, commonly owned vehicles to avoid standing out. We experience very few such thefts each year-perhaps two percent.

 

Insurance Fraud: Finally, an uncertain number of reported auto thefts are not thefts at all. The owner has either sold the car to a "chop shop" or has abandoned it; he then reports it stolen, hoping to obtain compensation from his insurance company. Crackdowns on insurance fraud have diminished the frequency of these fraudulent claims, but insurance fraud is probably still responsible for 10 to 15 percent of thefts reported in Cambridge.

 

As of the time of this report, 325, or 65 percent of the motor vehicles stolen in 1996 have been recovered. The Department had virtually the same recovery rate last year. Most of the recoveries took place within four days of the original theft. The city of Boston contributed the most recoveries (135 or 42 percent), followed by Cambridge (82 or 25 percent) and Somerville (28 or nine percent). Other cities and towns which contributed more than five recoveries include Chelsea, Lynn, Brockton, Lawrence, and Medford. Fourteen recoveries took place outside of Massachusetts, including six in New York and three in Rhode Island. The farthest recovery was in Georgia.

View the 1996 Index Crime Totals

Back to the 1996 Annual Report Index

Back to the CPD Home Page