The United States has witnessed a staggering surge in auto thefts, with an increase of nearly 14% between 2020 and 2022, according to a recent report.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has revealed that in 2023, a vehicle was stolen every 31 seconds in the country, painting a grim picture of the state of law and order.
As reported by The Post Millennial, the study conducted by LendingTree discovered a 13.7% nationwide rise in vehicle thefts during the same period. This increase occurred despite the Biden-Harris administration's unfounded assertions that crime rates were declining. The report highlighted that vehicle thefts escalated in 34 states, with Vermont experiencing a shocking 163% spike, the only state where vehicle theft more than doubled.
The surge in auto thefts was not limited to Vermont. Four other states witnessed an increase of over 40%: Washington (65.8%), Colorado (46.4%), Pennsylvania (44.3%), and Oregon (40.4%). Interestingly, three cities in WashingtonKennewick, Bremerton, and Wenatcheewere among the top ten cities with the most significant increases in auto thefts. "We're talking about smaller places that we don't necessarily associate with big city problems like car thefts, said Rob Bhatt, a LendingTree auto expert and insurance agent. Bhatt further explained the sinister motive behind these thefts, stating, Bad actors know using a stolen car makes it easier for them to get away with other crimes.
The report also revealed that six of the top ten stolen models were Hyundai and Kia. This surge in thefts has had a direct impact on insurance rates. In the top ten states with the highest vehicle theft in 2023, the average annual cost of auto insurance was 5.8% higher than the national average.
The rise in crime comes in the wake of the Democrat-controlled Washington Legislature's decision to restrict police pursuits following the 2020 riots in Seattle. Despite warnings that such restrictions would embolden criminals, the legislation was passed, leading to a spike in suspects fleeing police. It was only in May that the Washington Legislature finally passed an initiative to remove these disastrous restrictions.
Washington has been ranked as the most dangerous state to live in for 2024, owing to high rates of violent crime, property crime, traffic-related fatalities, and a low number of law enforcement employees per capita. The Seattle Police Department is currently at its lowest staffing levels since the 1950s, and Washington also has the highest rates of burglary and auto theft in the U.S. The state is also the most affected by retail crime, further underscoring the urgent need for effective law enforcement and crime prevention strategies.
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