Chop, chop! Demonstration shows how fast car can be stolen, stripped

It doesn't take long for thieves to strip a car for parts to sell on the black market. As a way to remind drivers of this, Allstate Insurance Co. Thursday launched a 14-state tour to show just how fast a car can be stolen and stripped.

The insurance company tested the live chop shop demonstration at lunchtime for a crowd of more than 100 Allstate employees and media at its headquarters in Northbrook. The "Stripped In Seconds" campaign involves three Sterling Auto Body Employees armed with common hand tools and a timer. The demonstration, a lesson in theft prevention, shows what happens inside a chop shop as the auto body employees race against the clock to rip the car to pieces, turning it into a pile of parts sold for big bucks.

During the demonstration, the men hustled to dismantle a white Honda Civic in just under six minutes. Signs were then placed on the parts to show how much money thieves can typically get for the parts. The bumper is valued at $250 on the black market, the quarter panels go for about $400 while the headlights were valued at $165.

"Cars aren't stolen to take on fancy joy rides on the Edens Expressway. They are taken apart to sell the parts," said Allstate spokesman Bill Mellander, who serves as narrator for the two-month long tour.

The stolen car's parts are usually sold for more than the value of the vehicle, he said.

Allstate says most stolen vehicles are historically reliable rides that stay on the road longer. A dependable car's parts don't end up as salvage, so spare parts can be more difficult to find, creating a black market for thieves. The Honda Civic, Dodge Caravan and Oldsmobile Cutlass are the top targets in Illinois for thieves, according to Allstate. The company added that a car is stolen in the United States every 33 seconds, citing the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Suburban police departments say auto theft is more prevalent in Chicago, but stress it happens out here as well.

"We have about a handful of thefts a year," said Elgin Deputy Chief Cecil Smith.

"Once in a while we'll find a car stripped," added the department's Sgt. John Nebl.

The Illinois State Police reported that 628 vehicles were stolen in 2008 in DuPage County, 459 in Lake County and 155 in McHenry County. Cook County saw 24,554 auto thefts during 2008. However, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority reports that in most areas, the number of auto thefts reported decreased in 2008 from the prior year.

Allstate also saw fewer claims for car theft in 2009 than the previous year.

"With the Illinois theft numbers going down, now is the time to close the door on car thieves," said spokeswoman Ellie Klooster.

During the demonstration, Allstate reminded participants to lock their car and take the keys. One out of every five vehicles stolen had the keys in it, and almost half of all vehicles stolen were unlocked, the company says.

Klooster also recommends not to hide a second set of keys in the car and to park in well-lighted areas with heavy foot traffic. Mellander also reminds people not to leave their car running unattended.

"The big message here is simple common sense," he said.

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