Theft

The most common types of personal theft include pickpocketing, motor vehicle theft, home burglary, and identity theft.

Pickpocketing

Although many incidents may go unreported, according to a report by the Global Financial Integrity Coalition, there were an estimated 7.9 million cases of pickpocketing worldwide in 2018. Tourists are typically the targets of pickpocketing cases. Doing your research and taking the proper precautions can save you from jeopardizing your vacation and bank account. Many pickpocketing criminals will also use your identification to steal your identity.

Motor Vehicle Theft

According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, there were an estimated 748,841 motor vehicle thefts in the United States in 2019. Some cars are easier to steal than others. The make and model of the car can affect how easily it can be stolen. Smaller, older cars are generally considered to be easier to steal than newer, larger vehicles. Cars that don’t have an alarm system, immobilizer, or other anti-theft devices are also more vulnerable to theft.

Home Burglary

According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, there were an over 1.7 million burglaries in the United States in 2019. Of that number more than, 1.3million (around 80%) were classified as residential burglaries. Make sure you are following the deterrent checklist to avoid being a home burglary victim.

Identity Theft

According to the Federal Trade Commission, there were more than 3.2 million reported identity theft incidents in the United States in 2020. This represents a 16% increase from 2019. Identity thieves often obtain personal information through “phishing” emails, fake websites, data breaches, stolen wallets and mail, and dumpster diving.

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