The Illinois State Police say stealing cars isn’t as popular as it used to be. That’s just one of the findings of the 2007 crime stats released today.
Car thefts were down 10 percent last year. They’ve been on a steady decline since 2000. Luis Gutierrez is with the Illinois State police. He gives some of the credit to the cars themselves.
GUTIERREZ: They come either with an alarm. A lot of cars are coming with devices where it would be easier to track the vehicles if they’re stolen.
Gutierrez says the state crime stats reflect data from thousands of law enforcement agencies across Illinois. Crime was down in all categories: Robbery, Burglary, Criminal Sexual Assault, Arson. Murder was down last year nearly 5 percent compared to 2006 but that trend seems to be in reverse this year at least in Chicago where the murder rate has increased 16 percent.
I’m Robert Wildeboer, Chicago Public Radio.