Findings show that theft from parked cars is one of the most common complaints received by police in residential neighborhoods. As many as 10 percent of all of the reported thefts of automobiles are fraudulent; vehicle owners may stage a phony theft of their vehicle because they are no longer able or willing to make the required vehicle loan payments, or in order to defraud their insurance carrier for financial gain. Consequently, at least some portion of what is perceived to be a vehicle crime problem might in fact be an insurance fraud problem. According to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, these types of crimes make up some 36 percent of all larcenies reported to the police. This guide describes the problem of theft of and from cars in residential neighborhoods and reviews factors that increase its risks. It identifies a series of questions to help police to analyze their own local problem. Responding to the questions can lead organizations to evaluative research and police practices which offer a customized approach to the problem. Appendix, endnotes, and references