Incredible News: Report Shows Slight Decline in Tailgate Thefts

You probably never thought you’d see the day when you could look into the eyes of your child and tell them, in your most comforting tone, “Fear not, my dear sweet offspring, the dark clouds that once covered our great nation are breaking. Tailgate thefts have declined slightly this year and we can now see light at the end of the tunnel.”

However, as unbelievable as it sounds, that time has finally come. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), reports of insured tailgate thefts have stabilized since 2014. In fact, such crimes actually decreased by around 5 percent in 2017.

Unfortunately, truck owners cannot let their guard down entirely. So long that there is money in it, automotive crime will always be an issue.

“The incentive for tailgate thefts is consistent with other thefts; the cost to replace an item legitimately far outweighs the risk to acquiring one by stealing it,” the NICB explained. “With new tailgates retailing around $1,300, with even higher costs for some variants, the demand contributes to a thriving underground market for vehicle parts — a market fed with parts removed from stolen vehicles.”

You likelihood of becoming a victim of this oddly specific crime varies wildly by where you keep your vehicle parked, however. Over the last two years, Texas had the most tailgate theft claims (with 1,360 reported incidents). It was followed by California (with 1,039). While Florida, Arizona, and Nevada also saw an above-average risk, the Golden and Lone Star States encompassed the vast majority of reported incidents — more than their elevated populations could account for.

Nevada saw a major spike in tailgate-related crime, with a 245 percent increase of thefts in 2016-2017 against 2014-2016. However, incidents still trended downward on a national scale. The NICB attributes the overall decline to vehicles now have locking tailgates as standard kit. It also suggests owners of older models purchase tailgate locks to make their vehicles less attractive to opportunistic thieves.

[Image: NICB]