Car theft down 20 percent in Detroit, but still a major issue in the city

Amy Haimerl of Crain’s Detroit Business recently reported that car thefts in the city of Detroit are down 20 percent since this time last year. They are down more than 60 percent since 2005, when an astounding 20,000 car thefts were reported in the city.

According to Crain’s, “Plummeting auto thefts are good news for the city and the region, but there are still thousands of cars taken each year, and each one brings a heightened perception that the city is ever-more crime-ridden. Certain parts of Detroit already have a reputation for being car-theft magnets, and any new incident reinforces the perception.”

Crain’s attributes the decrease in auto thefts to police work and improved vehicle technology, noting that “newer models won’t start without a key, making hot-wiring vehicles almost impossible.”

Read more in Crain’s Detroit Business.