All but one Arizona city experiencing decrease in vehicle theft
SIERRA VISTA, AZ (Tucson News Now) - The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released its annual Hot Spots vehicle theft report for 2015 and showed most Arizona cities fell down the list, but just one city climbing the ranks.
"This is one example where falling farther down a list is a good thing," said Brad Oltmans, vice president of insurance for AAA Arizona. "Despite falling in the rankings, it's important for motorists to take precautions and not become complacent about this crime."
The NICB said Sierra Vista is the only city that climbed the chart ranking 265th compared to 279th place the previous year. Tucson went down 12 spots in the rankings to 99th from 87th in 2014. Phoenix d ropped 5 spots to 80th from 75th.
The majority of vehicles are stolen primarily for parts while others are taken for a joyride, according to the NICB.
"It's definitely a problem," said Bryan Grimm, owner of Freedom Automotive, a pre-owned car dealership on Fry Boulevard in Sierra Vista.
Grimm said two trucks were stolen from his lot within the last three months. He said one of them was a shop truck and another was a Nissan Frontier truck for sale.
Rob Richardson, who owns Richardson Motor Company, also a dealership located on Fry Boulevard, said fortunately, he hasn't been a victim, and urges car or business owners to take extra precaution.
"If somebody wants to take something bad enough, I don't care how much you do to stop it, they're going to be able to get in that car and take it somehow," said Richardson. "Even though we have security, I just make sure my cars are locked and go home at night and know that everything's going to be okay."
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