The Impact of Car Theft on Crime and Criminal Careers

Car theft is a significant crime that can lead to more serious offenses later in life, according to research by British criminologist Graham Farrell. Stolen cars are often used for other criminal activities, like drive-by shootings. The decrease in car theft since the 1990s is overshadowed by a recent spike in murder rates, and if teenagers continue to engage in car theft, there is concern about their future criminal behavior. The potential consequences of this trend are just beginning to unfold.