Car Thefts Rise In North Carolina After 10-Year Decline

Vehicle thefts are on the rise again in North Carolina after a decade-long decline.

The State Bureau of Investigation says about 15,000 vehicles were stolen in North Carolina in 2016. That's the latest data available. There were nearly 4,000 more incidents than the year before.

Authorities aren't sure what caused the increase. Some observers point to new technology that allows thieves to intercept a key fob signal and replicate it so the car can be stolen.

Steven Watkins of the Division of Motor Vehicles told The News & Observer that car thefts could be cut in half if people didn't do careless things like leaving their cars unlocked. Watkins also says vehicle owners shouldn't leave their cars running while they go inside stores.

It's not all bad news. The most recent numbers are still a steep decline from the nearly 30,000 stolen vehicles reported in 2006.

And the statistics show that the overall rate of property crimes such as burglary and larceny continue to decline.