Dude, where’s my car?: Phoenix data shows fewer car break-ins, thefts

By Mark Carlisle
Mail | Twitter: @mwcarlisle

Though violent crime has been on the rise in Phoenix in recent years, property crimes have been declining.

A north Phoenix neighborhood reported a string of vehicle break-ins this summer, and media reports have documented a rash of vehicle break-ins in Goodyear and Scottsdale earlier this year. However, these small surges seem to be counter to broader trends.

Since 2011, the per capita rate for theft/larceny in the city of Phoenix has decreased by 17% as of 2021. The burglary rate has seen a much steeper drop, as it is less than a third of what it was a decade ago. These statistics refer to all thefts and burglaries, not just vehicle break-ins.

A north Phoenix gymnastics studio that had a parent’s vehicle broken into in the parking lot stated police said thieves were targeting vehicles outside of other children’s recreational places in the area such as soccer fields and dance studios.

However, Phoenix Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Philip Krynsky said the department’s property crime detectives have not noticed any trend of a particular type of place being targeted for vehicle break-ins.

“Based on what they have, they have not identified a trend at this time,” Krynsky said.

Crime prevention tips from the Glendale, Peoria and Goodyear police departments regarding vehicle break-ins don’t mention any type of place being a common target for thieves. They do recommend people park in a well-lit areas visible by passers-by whenever possible to deter possible break-ins.

A vehicle break-in would most often be considered a burglary — which is when the theft also includes illegal entering of a property. They could be categorized theft/larceny if the vehicle was left unlocked or open.

Burglary rates in Phoenix have seen a year-to-year decline each of the past 10 years. Theft/larceny rates have seen just three year-to-year increases during the past decade with a general downward trend, ending with an 8.8% decrease from 2019 to 2021.

A crime is categorized as a “vehicle theft” only if the vehicle itself has been stolen. It is the one form of property crime that has increased during the past decade in Phoenix, declining to a low of 4.36 instances per 1,000 residents in 2013 up to 4.84 in 2021, an 11% increase.

However, the Arizona Department of Public Safety reports a broader drop-off in vehicle thefts statewide. ADOT’s Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force reports a 56% decline in vehicle thefts from 1997 to 2018, despite the state’s population increasing during that time. Arizona once had the nation’s highest vehicle theft rate but now no longer is in the top 10.

Robbery is the taking of property by force or threat of force and is categorized as a violent crime. In Phoenix, it is the one type of violent crime not to see its rate increase during the past decade, following instead the declining trend of burglaries and thefts. Robbery in Phoenix in the 2010s peaked at 2.4 instances per 1,000 residents in 2012 and declined to 1.95 in 2021, a 23% decrease.

A vehicle break-in occurred in the afternoon in late August in the parking lot North Valley Gymnastics in north Phoenix. The gymnastics center sent an email to parents, obtained by Independent Newsmedia, that stated police told the parent victimized that it was the fourth vehicle break-in “on the block recently” and that “the suspected car burglary gang(s) are targeting Gymnastics Studios, Soccer Fields, Dance Studios, etc.”

However, crime data shared by the Phoenix Police Department does not show any such targeting of parking lots outside children’s recreation spaces in the area surrounding the gymnastics center.
Phoenix police documented six vehicle break-ins over a month-long period from late July to late August in a roughly 16-square-mile area bordered by Loop 101 on the south, Pinnacle Peak Road on the north, Seventh Street on the west and Scottsdale Road on the east.

Based on the addresses of the vehicle break-ins, three appear to have occurred outside of medical buildings, one outside an industrial businesses, one in a single-family neighborhood and the last at the gymnastics center.

Krynsky said he did not know which patrol officer the gymnastics parent may have spoken to but the property crime detectives had not reported any broad trends regarding vehicle crimes. The detectives will review the available evidence, including any surveillance video, to determine if there might be a connection between crimes.

“Then looking at those facts they can determine, ‘OK yes, the MO on this is similar or the suspect that we see is similar or the ends that are taken is similar,’” Krynsky said. “There’s obviously various things that can trigger like, ‘OK, this is obviously the same person or the same group that’s doing this.’ So, based on what they have, they have not identified a trend at this time.”

This northeast Phoenix area is not a popular place for property crimes. While Phoenix’s rates of violent crimes have risen and property crime rates have declined in recent, the common areas of crime have remained consistent.

Crime heat maps show that both violent and property crimes from 2019-21 show the worst hot spots in downtown as well as along Interstate 17 stretching from Indian School Road to Cactus Road. There is also a hot spot on Bell Road east of I-17 as well as an area of minor hotspots stretching east-to-west across the city bordered by McDowell and Indian School roads.

Tips to prevent car break-ins

Crime prevention tips given by the Glendale, Peoria and Goodyear police departments encourage parking in a garage if possible. If not, park in a well-lit, well-visible area.

Be sure to lock the vehicle, ensure all windows and sunroofs are closed and remove all valuables. If valuables must be left, conceal them so they cannot be seen from someone peering into the vehicle. The Valley departments not that spare keys, garage door openers and vehicle documents should also be removed or concealed.

Lastly, the departments encourage secondary protection devices like a car alarm or a club to lock the steering wheel in place.

“This will not be a guarantee, but it may make the burglar move on to another vehicle,” the Goodyear Police Department states on its web page.

Most targeted vehicles

Older vehicles tend to be the most targeted for vehicle thefts.

According to the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, seven of the top 10 most stolen vehicles nationally last year were 2006 models or older.

The trend is even more true in Arizona, where eight of the top 10 were 2006 models or older and only one in the top 10 was newer than 2015

Mark Carlisle
Associate Editor | Phoenix
@mwcarlisle

mcarlisle@iniusa.org

Meet Mark

Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.

Community: Mark enjoys taking his two young sons to parks, the Phoenix Zoo, the Phoenix Public Library  and other fun events around the Valley. He also participates in a local book club.

Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.

Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.

 Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, sons and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.