Rizio and Nelson California Law Blog

According to Reuters, September 24, 2009, the rate of auto theft incidences in California is decreasing. This is great news for the victims who have gone through the inconvenience and expense of having their car stolen. One of the programs that has been developed to combat auto theft is VIN etching. The VIN, Vehicle Identification Number, which every automobile manufactured has, is unique for every automobile. By etching these numbers onto the vehicle’s windows, it makes them much less desirable targets for professional auto thieves, who often disassemble them and sell their parts, or create false titles and change license plates in order to sell them cheaply to unsuspecting buyers. Of course, if your car is stolen or missing, notify the police immediately – the sooner you do, the more likely it is that it will be recovered.

All over California, auto theft task forces have been formed to deal with the immense problem of auto theft. According to the Orange County Auto Theft Task Force, among the most often stolen vehicles are the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry, as well as the Toyota Tacoma and Ford F-150 trucks. Because Los Angeles is such an active port city, organized auto rings export the stolen vehicles quickly, often before they can be recovered. These task forces are now focusing more on previously identified persons who have been known to commit these types of crimes. By focusing on these people, the task forces have been able to significantly reduce the instances of car theft in Southern California.

Of course, many instances of auto theft are committed by individuals. Very often, people take joyrides, then dump the car someplace in the city far from where it was stolen. Many of these cars become abandoned if their owners don’t report them stolen. Sometimes, a theft occurs when a friend borrows a car. Even keeping a rented car too long is considered to be grand theft auto. The police will tell you that it’s always better to report a stolen vehicle than to try to find it yourself.

If you have been accused of stealing a car, it’s best to have proper representation by experienced lawyers. Perhaps that rented car was overdue because you became suddenly ill, wound up in the hospital, and were unable to return it in time. Perhaps you, the friend, simply drove the car home after driving the owner, who was too incapacitated to drive himself. The police know that misunderstandings do happen, but they know the law well and will arrest you if they believe the vehicle was stolen. Contact Rizio and Nelson if you need help – they also know the law well.

The professionals at the Law Offices of Rizio and Nelson are available twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week, so schedule your free initial consultation right away and begin to mount your defense!