Indy Worst in State for Auto Thefts, Lafayette the Best

April 24, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis metropolitan area ranks 50th in the nation for vehicle thefts per capita, according to data released today by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). Of 361 Metropolitan Statistical Areas ranked, Lafayette was Indiana’s best at 296th.

The NICB’s Hot Spots report uses Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) as designated by the federal Office of Management and Budget. MSAs may include areas surrounding a specific city. Rankings are determined by vehicle thefts per 100,000 inhabitants. Indiana cities are ranked as follows:

50. Indianapolis-Carmel
74. Chicago (includes Jasper, Lake, Porter and Newton counties in Indiana)
77. Louisville (includes Clark, Floyd, Harrison and Washington counties)
111. Terre Haute
135. South Bend-Mishawaka
136. Elkhart-Goshen
139. Michigan City-LaPorte
177. Cincinnati (includes Dearborn, Franklin and Ohio counties)
207. Columbus
212. Fort Wayne
226. Kokomo
263. Muncie
274. Evansville
277. Anderson
287. Bloomington
296. Lafayette

Preliminary data shows a 2.3 percent decrease in auto thefts nationwide in 2006 compared to 2005. Indiana’s trend is similar, with a 2.4 percent decline.

"Hoosiers enjoy lower auto insurance premiums than much of the country," Insurance Institute President Steve Williams said. "One of the contributing factors is the low rate of car theft. A good way to keep premiums low is to protect your vehicle from criminals."

Hoosiers can protect their vehicles in a variety of ways. The Insurance Institute of Indiana and the NICB recommend a "layered approach" to minimizing your risk.

1. Common Sense - Remove keys from ignition, lock your doors, close your windows, park in well-lit areas

2. Warning Devices - Audible alarms, steering wheel locks, brake locks, theft deterrent decals, VIN etching, etc.

3. Immobilizing Devices (devices that prevent hot-wiring) – Smart keys, fuse cut-offs, kill switches, ignition disablers, etc.

Nationally, Las Vegas rated as this year’s NICB "Number One Hot Spot". The Nevada city had nearly 22,500 vehicle thefts, or 1,312 per every 100,000 residents. The Indianapolis MSA had only 500 thefts per 100,000 residents.

All but two of the top 20 cities are western cities. Detroit (16th) and Myrtle Beach, SC (19th) were the only cities in the eastern portion of the United States ranked in the top 20.

Indianapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati, Fort Wayne, Muncie, Evansville, Bloomington and Lafayette all saw a decline in per capita thefts in 2006. Michigan City-LaPorte experienced the sharpest increase. Their position worsened from 204th in 2005 to 139th in 2006.

The Insurance Institute of Indiana is a non-profit trade association representing insurance companies in the state of Indiana. Its ultimate purpose is to create and maintain a business, legislative and public awareness climate in Indiana that promotes the continued success of the insurance segment in the free enterprise system.

Visit us on the web at www.insuranceinstitute.org.

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