Buffalo Metro Area Has New York’s Highest Vehicle Theft Rate

The New York Insurance Association (NYIA) said the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area has the highest vehicle theft rate in New York State and the Elmira metro area has the lowest theft rate in the state.

A report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) outlined the 2011 theft rates on a per capita basis for the twelve Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in New York State:

Theft rates in New York State remain far below the national norm. “The vehicle theft rates in the metropolitan areas of New York State rank in the lower one-half of the nation,” Ellen Melchionni, president of NYIA said. “Even Buffalo-Niagara Falls, the metropolitan area with the highest vehicle theft rate in New York State, is 183 out of the 366 MSAs in the NICB report, and Elmira ranks second to last of all MSAs in the nation.”

Ten of the 12 MSAs in New York State reported lower thefts in 2011 than they experienced in 2010. Only the Glens Falls and Binghamton MSAs reported an increase. A complete list of New York State MSAs with rankings, number of thefts and theft rates for the past three years is attached.

“The lower theft rates are a reflection of the commitment of the insurance industry and law enforcement to crack down on theft,” Melchionni said. “Drivers taking precautions to prevent their vehicles from being stolen has also been critical to reducing thefts. Drivers need to remain vigilant—this good news does not mean anyone in New York should relax.”

Source: NYIA