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Steering Column Locks and Car Theft (From Designing Out Crime, P 19-30, 1980, R V G Clarke and P Mayhew, ed. - See NCJ-78253)

NCJ Number
78254
Author(s)
P Mayhew; R V G Clarke; J M Hough
Date Published
1980
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This British study assesses the effect of increased security of vehicles manufactured since 1971 on their unauthorized use and analyzes the question of whether preventive measures actually reduce crime or simply displace its pattern.
Abstract
The sample was drawn from the Metropolitan Police District's (MPD) statistical records and comprised, in 1969 and 1973, the last 20 (or as many as were available) recorded as stolen in each of the 23 main divisional stations of the MPD. Study results showed that in 1969 'new' cars represented 20.9 percent of all cars illegally taken, whereas in 1973 the figure had dropped to 5.1 percent. The difference was attributed to the protection afforded by antitheft devices. A main finding of the study was that although steering column locks had substantially reduced the illegal use of cars fitted with these locks, they also seemed to have the effect of redirecting thieves to cars without such locks. It is suggested that the entire class of cars must be simultaneously secured in order for owners to derive real benefits from steering column locks. It is further suggested that a technical approach to the problem of vehicle security is likely to prove more acceptable than the alternative of introducing legal sanctions against drivers who leave their cars unsecured. Tabular data and footnotes are included.