I'm the DA in the Portland OR (Multnomah County). I can assure you people watch Tik Tok here. Like other cities we have seen a dramatic spike in Kia and Hyundai theft. Auto Theft (UUV) continues to be the most common felony we prosecute. Like your data trend suggests, we saw a massive spike in 2022, but as we just closed 2023 we are down somewhere near 25% from last year. There have been 2 major enforcement shifts during that time. First, Portland Police (largest agency in our county) teamed up with OHSU (local research University) and developed an algorithm for stopping cars suspected to be stolen. This has dramatically increased their enforcement efficiency. Their hit rate (success rate) has gone from 1:8 (stolen:stopped) to roughly 1:2. They are now pulling over fewer suspected vehicles, while at the same time stopping dramatically more stolen vehicles per mission. Second, we restarted our old auto theft task force, pairing an experienced prosecutor and DA Investigator in the field with LE from local police agencies. They target high volume thieves, and organized car thieves. They have been successful at getting multiple people each individually responsible for 100's of car thefts over the last year off the streets. Perhaps we are also the beneficiary of being on the front end of the national trend turning for other yet as unidentified factors. And, there is no doubt in my mind that these two law enforcement interventions have been major contributing factors. -Mike
When I ran Maryland's auto theft media campaign through the Broadcasters Association, vehicle thefts decreased considerably via the introduction of prevention tactics and devices.
But the interest, at least to me, are groups via the National Crime Victimization Survey. Traditionally, mixed race people, the disabled and others have much higher crime rates.
Through the 2022 report, there are huge gains in victimization for women, Hispanics, the poor, the elderly and younger age groups.
Why? My readers suggest that that offenders are drawn to those most vulnerable (while understanding that the inclusion of certain groups is not politically correct-i.e., the woman I play tennis with has a black belt in martial arts).
I sometimes wonder is there are communications via social media or news coverage suggesting vulnerability (vehicles) or commentary on groups with with high rates of crime (mixed race).
To me, a wonderful thesis would be interviews with offenders as to what they read or hear or watch that shifts their interest. If there are endless stories as to catalytic converter thefts, and the ease of these thefts, does it create more interest? If there are news reports on fraud and the elderly, do offenders shift targets. Via the FBI's 2022 report, that seems to be happening.
I've interviewed hundreds of offenders regarding their criminal activity yet what they do seemed more episodic rather then something planned. Has there been a shift in criminal activity via what they are exposed to via the media or social media?
I'm the DA in the Portland OR (Multnomah County). I can assure you people watch Tik Tok here. Like other cities we have seen a dramatic spike in Kia and Hyundai theft. Auto Theft (UUV) continues to be the most common felony we prosecute. Like your data trend suggests, we saw a massive spike in 2022, but as we just closed 2023 we are down somewhere near 25% from last year. There have been 2 major enforcement shifts during that time. First, Portland Police (largest agency in our county) teamed up with OHSU (local research University) and developed an algorithm for stopping cars suspected to be stolen. This has dramatically increased their enforcement efficiency. Their hit rate (success rate) has gone from 1:8 (stolen:stopped) to roughly 1:2. They are now pulling over fewer suspected vehicles, while at the same time stopping dramatically more stolen vehicles per mission. Second, we restarted our old auto theft task force, pairing an experienced prosecutor and DA Investigator in the field with LE from local police agencies. They target high volume thieves, and organized car thieves. They have been successful at getting multiple people each individually responsible for 100's of car thefts over the last year off the streets. Perhaps we are also the beneficiary of being on the front end of the national trend turning for other yet as unidentified factors. And, there is no doubt in my mind that these two law enforcement interventions have been major contributing factors. -Mike
Thanks for the insight, Mike. That's really interesting!
The TikTok Kia Boys were in fact from Milwaukee, so yes the system was known there before the rest of the country https://www.cbs58.com/news/in-jail-again-kia-boy-from-viral-documentary-arrested-for-stealing-another-car-two-months-after-release-from-jail
When I ran Maryland's auto theft media campaign through the Broadcasters Association, vehicle thefts decreased considerably via the introduction of prevention tactics and devices.
But the interest, at least to me, are groups via the National Crime Victimization Survey. Traditionally, mixed race people, the disabled and others have much higher crime rates.
Through the 2022 report, there are huge gains in victimization for women, Hispanics, the poor, the elderly and younger age groups.
Why? My readers suggest that that offenders are drawn to those most vulnerable (while understanding that the inclusion of certain groups is not politically correct-i.e., the woman I play tennis with has a black belt in martial arts).
I sometimes wonder is there are communications via social media or news coverage suggesting vulnerability (vehicles) or commentary on groups with with high rates of crime (mixed race).
To me, a wonderful thesis would be interviews with offenders as to what they read or hear or watch that shifts their interest. If there are endless stories as to catalytic converter thefts, and the ease of these thefts, does it create more interest? If there are news reports on fraud and the elderly, do offenders shift targets. Via the FBI's 2022 report, that seems to be happening.
I've interviewed hundreds of offenders regarding their criminal activity yet what they do seemed more episodic rather then something planned. Has there been a shift in criminal activity via what they are exposed to via the media or social media?
to what extent is stealing guns kept in. vehicle a driver/contributor to auto thefts