smurfslayer
Well-Known Member
That’s great, but, if you compare the cost to insure in and around a “no pursuit/no action taken” city for vehicle thefts to a locale that actually follows up on vehicle thefts or deploys officers in and around high theft areas to deter the theft in the first place, you’ll notice that the cost to insure the vehicles is much higher in and around jurisdictions where they only take reports of stolen vehicles. A LOT more.
TX is ground zero for cartel bounty theft, mostly of super crew trucks. As @BrownsReds points out, F150s are stolen at much higher rates, largely because the F series is COMICALLY easy to break into; retract the door handle, twist the lock cylinder, you’re in. It’s 3-5 seconds tops.
I have very strong hands and I can almost turn that cylinder with just my thumb and index finger, but a multi-tool is all you need. Chevy and Dodge aren’t much worse to get into, but the F series sets the standard for easy, unwanted access.
In and around Austin, Houston and San Antonio, you’re only a few hours from Mexico. So, thieves can swipe a truck, get it to safe location, swap plates and head for the border. If they can be cool for 2-4 hours, they’re Scot free in Mexico and can collect a lot of pesos for their efforts. Even though it’s felony theft, all the departments do in and around these locales is take your report, add the VIN to the stolen vehicle db, empathize with you and wish you a nice day. That’s it.
“I have insurance, it’s not worth it”. That works a few times until you’re flagged as high risk and companies stop offering comprehensive coverage to you, or offer you coverage for all but theft.
And nobody is immune. I have relatives in Washington DC, including one who is employed by a three letter agency. They average a vehicle stolen every 15 months. It’s been a government asset more than once, but I’m not sure of the count. Some have been abandoned, others never seen again.
Insurance companies are in the business to make money and they are astoundingly good at it. They are able to use all manner of factors to determine your “risk”. Any conceivable commonality they can establish to a “loss”, they’re basically allowed to use to raise your rates. So, if you file multiple claims, or cross a dollar threshold, etc. They’ll break up with you. I saw Geico do this to a friend of mine a few years out of high school.
Also, the insurance companies aggregate data to determine risk factors, and they amortize risky customers with better driving customers. The latter do get better rates, but you’re still covering higher risk drivers out of your region.
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