The Stolen Cars by xxxxx xxxxxxxx

I want to explore the stolen car issue. I think the number of stolen cars is increasing rapidly because I have heard the story of stolen cars from some friends and my family also had our car stolen two years ago. Therefore, I will show the present condition and some countermeasures.

In 1999, there were 43, 092 cases of stealing, increasing 20% more compared with 1998, and in 2000, it increased 30.4% (The Yomiuri newspaper, April 29th, 2001). A lot of them are high-class cars and Recreational Vehicles. Most of these cases are caused by gangs cooperating with international stealing groups. It would take them only 10 minutes or so to take away their booty. In 1995, the ministry of International Trade and Industry deregulated the regulation about used car exportation and the cars pass the customhouse without strict checks. Therefore, the stealing groups sell the cars to the Middle East countries, Southeast countries, Russia and so on after they changed the body numbers (The Asahi newspaper, March 30th, 2001). 70% of stolen cars do not return and the arrest rate is only 20% (The Yomiuri newspaper, November 27th). It is nearly impossible for an individual to find his car.

The robbery issue is related with a domestic problem. Some insurance companies raised their premiums. According to Takebe Iguchi, the president of The Marine Fire Insurance Association of Japan, the number of payments for stolen cars in 2001 increased 74% more than that of the year before, and the total amount reached 52 billion. Therefore, they need to change the insurance plans to maintain profits. There will be a lot of patterns of insurance plans called "risk subdivision insurance" (The Mainichi newspaper, June 15th). We had better choose the plan carefully.

In summary, it may be too hard to have a car. We must protect our car by ourselves. There are some effective countermeasures. Some high-class cars and imported cars are equipped with "immobilizers", but this system is too expensive. Therefore, we can install an alarm and a hand lock chain to our car. Moreover, we should check the key or engine when we get out of the car. If you make a fault, your insurance will not cover you fully.

Author not named (2001) A Desperate Fight Against Car Stealing. The Yomiuri Newspaper on 29th April

Author not named (2001) Insurance Companies Do not Accept RVs. The Asahi Newspaper, March 30th

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