Vehicle Thefts Reported During Major Holidays Decline in 2009

Once again, New Year's Day was the leading holiday for reported vehicle thefts in 2009, according to an analysis by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Christmas Day repeats as the holiday with the fewest reported vehicle thefts. 

For the 11 holidays reviewed in 2009, a total of 22,991 vehicles were reported stolen compared with a total of 24,676 reported for those same days in 2008.   

Vehicle thefts have been declining for six consecutive years, with preliminary 2010 FBI theft data pointing to a seventh year. There is always a black market for items obtained by theft, and vehicles remain popular theft targets.

The full report is available at: www.nicb.org//File%20Library/Public%20Affairs/2008-2009-Holiday-Theft-Analysis.pdf.  

The holidays ranked by number of thefts reported to the National Crime Information Center in 2009 were:

New Year's Day                      2,760

Halloween                              2,325              

Independence Day                 2,207

Memorial Day                          2,207

President's Day                       2,204

Labor Day                               2,202

New Year's Eve                       2,189

Valentine's Day                       2,090

Christmas Eve                        1,851  

Thanksgiving                          1,620

Christmas Day                       1,336