A snapshot of Car Theft in the U.S. from the Mid-1960s

A Snapshot of the Cars that were Stolen

            As a result of a Department of Justice survey done in the mid- 1960s, the following tabular data provided a snapshot of auto theft immediately prior to the direct involvement of the federal government in forcing the automobile industry to redesign various anti-theft features that included steering wheel locks, the elimination of vent windows, external door locks, and internal door lock “buttons.” [1] 

Table II-2:  Sample of Types of Vehicles Stolen, 1966 Department of Justice Survey of 1659 returned prisoner surveys

Make of Vehicle	Number	Percent Stolen
Buick	255	7.4
Cadillac	96	2.5
Camaro	12	.3
Chevrolet	1,548	40.2
Chrysler	40	1.0
Comet	18	.5
Corvair	77	2.0
Corvette	76	3.0
Dodge	84	2.2
Falcon	28	.7
Ford	527	13.7
Impala	88	2.3
Imperial	8	.2
Lincoln	23	.6
Mercury	60	1.6
Mustang	100	2.6
Oldsmobile	210	5.4
Plymouth	124	3.2
Pontiac	244	6.3
Pontiac GTO	34	.9
Rambler	60	1.6
Thunderbird	55	1.4
Volkswagen	57	1.5

            Clearly, in the 1960s, thieves -- primarily joy riders -- preferred the common vehicle over luxury and European brands.  As the next table illustrates, older cars -- for whatever reason (perhaps because owners cared less about them), were more likely to be stolen. Hot spots for the "boost" were most likely to be in front of one's home, or at a shopping center.  Logically, theft rates increased at night.  And, corroborating industry spokesmen and insurance investigators, the large majority of thefts took place because the owner left the keys in the car or left the ignition switch in the on position, a common occurrence during that era when a keyless ignition switch "position" was a feature on all General Motors cars. No car was safe, and no owner, no matter what class or race was immune from the activity of the car thief.  For example, in 1964, Senator Barry Goldwater’s 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was stolen at the Dulles airport while its owner was away on a trip back to the West Coast. That same year, in several major cities, a publicity campaign – “Lock Your Car – Take Your Keys” -- was undertaken with positive short-term results. Both in Boston and in San Francisco the National Automobile Theft Bureau worked with police officials to mount a television, radio and newspaper effort urging car owners to lock their cars. Parking meter decals and leaflets included in the mailing of utility bills spread a message that somewhat arrested but did not stop the tide of increasing thefts. Yet the outcome of this endeavor was far from overwhelming -- in Boston the campaign resulted in an increase in thefts of only 18%, nationwide in major cities the rate was 25% during the first quarter of 1964.[2]

Table II-3:  Sample of Years of Automobiles Stolen, from Department of Justice 1966 Prisoner Survey

Year	Number	Percent
Before 1960	1,585	43.1
1960	247	6.4
1961	187	4.9
1962	302	7.8
1963	367	9.5
1964	425	11.0
1965	438	11.4
1966	325	8.4
1967	113	2.9

Table II-4: Place of Theft 1966 Department of Justice Prisoner Survey

Place of Theft	Number	Percent
Public street -- business	586	15.4
Public Street -- Residential	1,212	29.5
Attended Parking Lot	144	3.8
Shopping Center Lot	161	4.2
Unattended Parking Lot	566	14.9
Public Parking Lot	163	4.3
Home Garage or Carport	177	4.7
Home Driveway	332	8.7
New or Used Car Lot	491	12.9
Car Rental Agency	62	1.6

Table II-5: Purpose of Theft 1966 Department of Justice Prisoner Survey

Purpose of Theft	Number	Percent
Transportation	1,381	34.8
Joyriding	1,818	45.8
Sale	198	5
Sale of Parts	125	3.1
In connection with crime	107	2.7
Escape	228	5.7

Table II-6: Time of Theft 1966, Department of Justice Prisoner Survey

Time of Theft	Number	Percent
Daylight	340	346
Dark	642	654

Table II-7: Method of Entry 1966, Department of Justice Prisoner Survey

Method of Entry	Number	Percent
Car left unlocked	2923	75.9
Forced	322	8.4
Key from another car	81	2.1
Key legally obtained	176	4.6
Key illegally obtained	351	9.1

Table II-8: How a Stolen Car was Started 1966, Department of Justice Prisoner Survey

Method of Starting	Number	Percent
Key left in ignition	1,664	43.2
Key left in car but not ignition	131	3.4
Master, jiggler, try out key	182	4.7
Jump wires under hood	152	3.9
Cross wires under dash	245	6.4
Separate ignition system	57	1.5
Ignition on "off" position	666	17.3
Tin foil	68	1.8
Screwdriver or other tool	93	2.4
Key legally obtained	207	5.4
Key Illegally obtained	391	10.1

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[1] "US Department of Transportation Survey" In US Congress, House of Representatives, 90th Congress, 2nd Session. Hearings Before Subcommittee No. 5 of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, H.R. 15215 and Related Bills, March 6, 14, 1968 (Washington: GPO, 1968), p.35.

[2] National Automobile Theft Bureau, “Police in Two Major Cities Declare an All-Out War on Auto Thieves,” Action Report, 1 (September-October, 1964), 1,4.