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Maryland, Virginia, D.C. see historic declines in auto thefts

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON — Auto thefts saw major declines in the D.C. area in 2013, but AAA says it’s no reason for drivers to let their guards down during summer’s high-risk theft time.

Maryland, Virginia and D.C. all had decreases in the number of vehicles stolen in 2013, according to information AAA Mid-Atlantic released Monday.

The drop represents a larger trend around the United States, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

“The dramatic declines in the sheer number of auto thefts in Maryland, Virginia, and the District are great news for motorists. The decreases can be attributed to increased public awareness, warp-speed advances in factory-installed and after- market anti-theft prevention technology in connected vehicles and other newer model vehicles on the road today, as well as programs deployed by law enforcement and other agencies,” John Townsend, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs, said in a news release.

Maryland

In 2013, Maryland had the lowest number of motor vehicle thefts reported since 1975. In 2013, thieves stole more than 13,400 vehicles — a 7.3 percent decrease in thefts since 2012, according to the state’s Uniform Crime Report.

Local Maryland counties saw change for the better: Montgomery County went from 1,073 auto thefts in 2012 to 913 in 2013; Prince George’s County went from 5,092 auto thefts in 2012 to 4,293 in 2013 and Anne Arundel County went from 888 in 2012 to 677 in 2013.

Despite the decrease seen in Prince George’s County, it leads the state in auto thefts.

Virginia

Virginia is seeing its lowest vehicle-theft rates in nearly 40 years, and saw an almost six percent decrease from 2012 to 2013.

In 2013, thieves stole about 500 fewer vehicles than in 2012 going from 8,846 thefts to 8,318, according to figures from Virginia H.E.A.T.

The motor vehicle theft rate has dropped more than 27 percent across Virginia since 2009.

Northern Virginia sees more auto thefts than other parts of the commonwealth, officials report. Nearly a quarter (24 percent) of motor vehicle thefts in the commonwealth occurred in Northern Virginia in 2013, Virginia State Police say.

In Fairfax County, there were 767 motor vehicles stolen in 2013, in comparison to 821 auto thefts in 2012. In Arlington County, The number of auto thefts dropped to 157 motor vehicles in 2013, compared to 182 stolen vehicles in 2012, a decrease of 13.74 percent.

Loudoun County had a 23 percent decrease in motor vehicle thefts last year when 112 vehicles were stolen, in contrast to 146 vehicles in 2012. Prince William County went from 365 stolen vehicles in 2012 to 327 auto thefts in 2013.

D.C.

The nation’s capital saw a decrease in auto thefts in 2013, too, continuing its five-year trend of declining auto thefts.

In 2013 in D.C., thieves stole 3,147 vehicles compared to 3,549 auto thefts in 2013, according to the 2013 Crime Report by the Metropolitan Police Department.

Auto thefts have declined by 60 percent over the past decade, MPD said to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Auto theft prevention

While the theft rates have plummeted around the region and the U.S., summer months are the leading time for auto thefts, AAA says.

July and August are historically the top months for auto thefts, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

“There is a definite seasonality to the incidence of motor vehicle thefts. June through August are the leading months for motor vehicle thefts, with almost 30 percent of reported thefts occurring during this time frame (based on a five-year average from 2009-2013),” the Virginia H.E.A.T. program says to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

AAA Mid-Atlantic offers the following tips to make sure your vehicle isn’t stolen:

  • Get VIN etched. The VIN number of your vehicle can be etched in each piece of glass. Doing this will be a deterrent to a thief, who would have to replace all of the glass on the vehicle to make it unidentifiable.
  • Lock your vehicle. It’s a simple measure that adds security in all cases. AAA suggests locking the vehicle and rolling up the windows even when in a garage.
  • Keep belongings out of sight. Don’t tempt theives by leaving belongings out in the open.
  • Never leave your keys in the vehicle. If you’re not in the vehicle, turn it off and take your keys with you.
  • Park in well-lit areas. Parking in secure areas with good lighting can deter anyone trying to steal a vehicle. Consider installing a motion-activated floodlight that lights up when the car is parked.
  • Use automatic tracking devices. Have an alarm or hidden tracking device installed.
  • Remove spare keys. Don’t hide extra keys for the car in or around the vehicle.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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