| According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), Albuquerque, New Mexico ranked in the nation's top ten cities for auto theft in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Although the state's largest metropolitan area moved from 7th highest motor vehicle theft rates in 2007 to 8th in 2008 to 10th in 2009, auto theft continues to be a booming business for car thieves in New Mexico.
Unfortunately, Albuquerque is experiencing a plight similar to other cities that border Mexico and within easy access of drug cartels that use stolen cars as a means to finance and transport drugs, weapons and money into and out of Mexico.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the number of U.S. motor vehicle thefts decreased by 17 percent from 2008 to 2009, the sixth consecutive annual decrease. In 2009 the value of stolen motor vehicles was nearly $5.2 billion. The average value of a motor vehicle reported stolen in 2009 was $6,505.
New Mexico law enforcement, government officials, state legislators and members of the business community have partnered with the insurance industry during recent years to target the state's auto theft problem. Governor Bill Richardson has signed 2009 legislation that strengthens penalties for motor vehicle theft; creates new crimes of embezzlement and fraud for auto theft; relocates motor vehicle theft and damage crimes from the Motor Vehicle Code to the Criminal Code.
Each year, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) studies Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), or major metropolitan areas to compare the number of vehicle thefts per 100,000 people.
Metropolitan
Statistical Area (MSA) |
2010 Rank,
out of 366 MSAs |
2010
Auto Theft
Rate
per
100,000 people |
2009
Auto Theft
Rate
per
100,000 people |
| Albuquerque |
20 |
435.36 |
561.25 |
| Santa Fe |
128 |
209.47 |
238.59 |
| Las Cruces |
157 |
188.31 |
188.45 |
| Farmington |
261 |
113.81 |
172.40 |
New Mexico 's Top Ten Stolen Vehicles in 2010 (NICB)
- 2001 Dodge Ram
- 1997 Honda Civic
- 1996 Honda Accord
- 1991 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)
- 1997 Ford F150 Series/Pickup
- 1990 Toyota Camry
- 2004 Ford F250 Series/Pickup
- 2006 Ford F350 Series/Pickup
- 2001 Ford Ranger
- 1994 Ford Explorer
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