RSS
Car Stereo Theft Doesn't Pay What It Used To
from the driven-out-of-business dept
It seems like a decade or so ago, it was pretty easy to find a friend who had a story about their car window being smashed and their stereo stolen. But the FBI says that car-stereo thefts have dropped by about 60 percent since 1994, thanks mainly to technology and economics (via Engadget). Fewer people are replacing their car stereos these days, as the quality of factory units has improved, but also as features like CD players have diffused throughout the auto population. Most thieves won't bother stealing factory stereos because their resale value is so low: they have to find a buyer who needs to replace the same model, and that's much harder than reselling a radar detector or GPS unit that will work in any car. What's more, the cost of aftermarket equipment has dropped significantly, squeezing stereo-stealers' margins even more. Usually when we talk about unintended consequences, it's in reference to something with decent intentions that delivers some negative unexpected outcome, but it's nice to see sometimes things work the other way, too.
17 Comments | Leave a Comment..
- How Does The Penalty For 'Content Theft' Match Up With Similar 'Crimes'?
- Misleading Metaphors That Drive The War On Online Sharing
- Dear MPAA: Stomp Your Feet And Repeat It As Many Times As You Want, But Infringement Is Not Theft
- Yet Another Study Shows That Students Inherently Know That File Sharing Is Not Theft
- Lindsay Lohan Claims Surveillance Tape Of Her Stealing Necklace Violates Her Publicity Rights
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
Back in the day
While I still see a lot of shortcomings in factory systems, they are a lot better than they used to be, and a lot less work to maintain and they are already installed.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
We need to get Congress on this right now. Throw some stimulus money to the kids who are out of work because of the lack of resell value on stolen stereo's. I say we give them all a bonus!!
oh yeah...and so it'll be passed, I need to add "Won't someone think of the kids?!?!?!?!?!" (while crying)
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
no mp3?
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
#2 is a moron
Choosing not to spend is un-American, and borderline treasonous.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: #2 is a moron
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: #2 is a moron
Learn what trason is...learn what "American" is....learn what ACTUALLY caused the economy to faulter and then you will be able to step back and see that my comments were a joke.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Surprising
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: #2 is a moron
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: no mp3?
What's worse is for some makes/models (e.g. Honda Civic) the stock stereo has an activation code. If the radio is disconnected from the battery, or the battery dies, it disables itself until you enter the code. This is intended as an anti-theft device.
Since nobody in their right mind would actually steal the thing, it only prevents the owner of the car from using it.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: no mp3?
Fixed that for ya ;)
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: no mp3?
Fixed that for ya ;)
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Surprising
aftermarket parts aren't as generic so that makes them easier to trace but a factory part's just a factory part. you wouldn't notice a factory headlight driving past you like you'd notice your stolen custom cowling on someone else's ride.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Surprising
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
car stereo
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Lock
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Add Your Comment