The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) published a report on February 2018 indicating that the rise of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Replacement Parts is contributing to the rise in auto theft.
Why are car parts for newer vehicles so expensive to begin with?
In a word… TECHNOLOGY.
Smart cars require ‘Smart-Parts’ and what used to be a common car door is now a complicated piece of technological equipment embedded with mini-computers that control many functions within the door, such as entry, temperature, door locks, power windows, and on and on.
All this automotive technology gets expensive and car thieves ‘see’ an opportunity to make a lot of illegal money on stolen car parts.
The NICB took a look at the cost of OEM Replacement Parts for the top 10 stolen 2016 models and the results were quite astonishing.
Check out the video below:
(To watch on YouTube click here)
The average prices for automotive OEM parts were pulled from a database of over 24 million appraisals of damaged vehicles generated from insurance claims from 2016 and 2017.
Parts such as bumpers, doors, fenders, hoods and headlights were on the list.
The costs were astronomical as you can see in the above video.
Don’t be fooled, crime is a business, a BIG BUSINESS and just like any other business, the ‘players’ are always looking for opportunities.
Every 33 seconds a vehicle is stolen somewhere in the United States, could it happen to YOU? … It’s possible, but, there are certain things you can do to help prevent becoming a victim of car theft as we explain on Protect Your Ride and Yourself.
Auto theft affects everyone that drives, and in many instances, even if you don’t drive or own a vehicle, through higher insurance premiums, higher auto repair costs, higher transportation costs, and not to mention the emotional toll if you become a victim of auto theft.
We will keep watching this ugly business of auto theft and continue to bring you the best information to help you to protect yourself from auto theft.
Until next time, Drive Safe and Enjoy Your Ride.
