Louisiana Sees Decline in Motor Vehicle Theft

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Donelon reported that motor vehicle theft rates are on the decline in Louisiana. Motor vehicle theft rates declined in 2009 over 2008 by 16.8 percent in four of Louisiana’s largest metropolitan areas according to 2009 preliminary data from the FBI Uniform Crime Report.

“The work of the Department of Insurance Louisiana Automobile Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority (LATIFPA) is having positive results across the state,” said Donelon.

LATIFPA has been active in educating consumers about vehicle theft and insurance fraud through a public awareness outreach campaign that began in 2007. This public awareness campaign and other aggressive efforts which include the mobilization of bait cars and license plate readers around the state have contributed to the recent reduction in motor vehicle theft and have raised awareness about insurance fraud according to Donelon.

Louisiana’s motor vehicle theft figures were lower in 2009 than in 2008 with 4,614 vehicles stolen in Louisiana’s four major metropolitan statistical areas according to the 2009 Preliminary FBI Uniform Crime Report. A total of 5,547 vehicles were stolen in the same metropolitan statistical areas in 2008.

Statewide preliminary numbers will be available from the FBI Uniform Crime Report in the upcoming months.

Below is a breakdown of the FBI data showing the recent decline in motor vehicle theft figures in Louisiana’s largest metropolitan cities:

Source: Louisiana Department of Insurance