JEDDAH, 19 February 2004 — A new study by the Ministry of the Interior blames nearly half of the car thefts on the negligence of car owners and says most are committed by teenagers who steal for joyriding purposes.
The report cites numerous examples of owner negligence including: leaving the car running for quick errands, or leaving the car unlocked with the car keys inside, leaving valuables inside the car, parking the car in dark deserted areas or in remote places and leaving broken-down cars parked for long periods of time, not to mention lending cars to those who are not trustworthy, thus risking the car keys being copied and later stolen.
Compounding factors include the ease with which cars can be opened, it says. It also points to youngsters with too much spare time on their hands which they do not know how to use and the growing number of foreigners in the Kingdom. It also highlights the inadequate legal consequences of car theft.
A smaller number of cars are stolen for sale in another area or used for smuggling.
Jeddah traffic policeman Muhammad Gilani agrees with most of the findings of the study. “Yes, the majority are under the age of 20,” he told Arab News. “But there are other demographics that should be mentioned. Some steal a car for the spare parts black market. The Toyota Camry’s car stereo is a very popular item, which can be sold for up to SR5,000.”
Khaled, 25, a bank teller, has been on the receiving end of car theft. “My car was stolen and returned after 24 hours by the thieves,” he said. “I could tell children stole it by the garbage they left in the car. My car was brought back with dents on it and an extra 5,000 km on the clock.” Police have yet to find the thieves.
However, the incidence of car theft in the Kingdom is lower than in other countries, and the missing cars in 30 percent of reports have in fact been towed away.
