NYC Rolls Out $55 Million Plan to Combat Car Thefts

M.C. Millman

New York State is rolling out a five-point plan called the Comprehensive Auto-Theft Reduction Strategy (CARS) to reduce the number of car thefts in the state. 

Fifty million dollars will fund local law enforcement technology and equipment. This includes a crime analysis center, a new crime-fighting dashboard to coordinate investigations, supporting local district attorneys in prosecuting car thefts and other crimes, and more. The remaining $5 million will fund youth justice and alternative programming by providing strategies targeting teenagers and young adults at risk of, or interacting with, the police and the criminal justice system.  

The state has also launched a public messaging campaign encouraging vulnerable car owners, specifically of certain Kia and Hyundai model vehicles, to install anti-theft measures. 

New York State sent this letter to certain vehicle owners, alerting them of their vulnerabilities and advising them on steps to take to minimize the risk of car theft. Specific vehicles have been targeted due to viral social media posts showing young people how to steal these cars.