Why are car thefts higher in the west than the east coast?

[jtvang125]

Heard it on the radio about the top 10 cities in the nation with the highest car thefts and about 7 out of the 10 cities were in the West . Here are the cities ranked highest from lowest from what I remembered. Can't remember the last 3 though.

Las Vegas
Stockton
Visalia
Phoenix
Modesto
Sacramento
Fresno

So why do you think car thefts are higher there than the east coast?


*Found a MSNBC article Here

 

[FoBoT]

none of those are in the midwest

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

what is your definition of the midwest?

 

[mugs]

None of those are in the midwest.

Well, I don't know where Stockton or Visalia are.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

In Indiana, you can leave your car running and unlocked while you shop, no one will take it.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
none of those are in the midwest

My thoughts exactly. Where are Denver, Omaha, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Chicago on that list? No, that is pretty much a list of all California cities.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Confirmed: jtvang125 thinks the term 'midwest' refers to central california!

 

[jtvang125]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
none of those are in the midwest

Ok ok, western US. But I think the 3 that I can't remember are in the midwest.

 

[Ricochet]

Stockton, Modesto, Sacramento, and Fresno are all in California.

By your definition "Midwest" = "West Coast". Get your geography straight.

 

[Lola]

by midwest i think Detroit, MI; Gary, IN, etc... not any of those places.

 

[loup garou]

:laugh:
Somebody failed geography!

 

[funkymatt]

*insert another geographical incompetence comment*

 

[IAteYourMother]

Originally posted by: jtvang125
Heard it on the radio about the top 10 cities in the nation with the highest car thefts and about 7 out of the 10 cities were in the midwest. Here are the cities ranked highest from lowest from what I remembered. Can't remember the last 3 though.

Las Vegas
Stockton
Visalia
Phoenix
Modesto
Sacramento
Fresno

So why do you think car thefts are higher there than the east coast?

QFS

 

[FoBoT]

this list looks close to yours

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/insurance/theft-cities1.asp

Theft rates in several other cities declined. Detroit declined from fourth in 2001 to 11th in 2002; Tucson dropped from sixth in 2001 to 13 in 2002; and Jersey City, N.J., fell from 10th in 2001 to 23rd in 2002.
The 10 worst auto theft capitals of America, according to the NICB, are:

1. Phoenix, Ariz.
2. Fresno, Calif.
3. Modesto, Calif.
4. Stockton-Lodi, Calif.
5. Las Vegas, Nev.
6. Miami, Fla.
7. Sacramento, Calif.
8. Oakland, Calif.
9. Seattle, Wash.
10. Tacoma, Wash.

The five safest metropolitan areas in the U.S., or its territories, by the way, are Williamsport, Pa.; Glens Falls, N.Y.; Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; Elmira, N.Y.; and State College, Pa., ranking 332 to 336, respectively.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Here's my theory: the cars are in better shape out in the west, you can get more good parts off them

 

[vi edit]

***Racially insensitive comment alert***

You find high theft rates in many border states/states that have high (illegal) immigrant populations.

 

[slsmnaz]

Woohoo I'm a statistic! Had my Jeep stolen in Phoenix while I was away for the weekend. I was told by the cop that it would be in Mexico within 24hrs.

 

[ViviTheMage]

sweet MN isn't on there!

 

[Slew Foot]

More mexicans= higher car thefts. Explains why the central valley has more than coastal CA.

 

[Drakkon]

proximity to mexico....highway coordors that make it easy to get to the border where they can chop up the cars

 

[patentman]

Dr. Dre.... He needs a new benzo... your benzo

 

[Chadder007]

Illegal Aliens.

 

[nageov3t]

random guess with no real basis? I'd say three things: people on the west coast might have nicer cars on account of the nicer weather and may be more likely to accidentally leave car windows open (while people in the north east hardly ever have them open in the first place 7-8 months/year); more prevalent gang activity; and better mass transit in the older metro areas of the country.

Originally posted by: FoBoT

The five safest metropolitan areas in the U.S., or its territories, by the way, are Williamsport, Pa.; Glens Falls, N.Y.; Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; Elmira, N.Y.; and State College, Pa., ranking 332 to 336, respectively.

just wanted to QFT that... I went to college in State College, PA, and we used to hang out in Williamsport. we used to smoke pot on the street in Williamsport all the time and never got accosted

 

[amdhunter]

Mexicans.

 

[RallyMaster]

Originally posted by: slsmnaz
Woohoo I'm a statistic! Had my Jeep stolen in Phoenix while I was away for the weekend. I was told by the cop that it would be in Mexico within 24hrs.

No, you're a datum. A statistic is an analysis of data. FAIL.

Reason for West Coast having more thefts...because they have more hot cars like Ferraris?