Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

[Mark E.]

Is the theft rate for older Corvettes (say, C1-C4) high? How much do I really need to worry when the '70 is sitting overnight in a motel parking lot during road trips?

I've heard the most commonly stolen vehicles are high volume cars a few years old. That's because much auto theft is for parts.

Does this mean the typical auto thief is less interested in old cars? If an old Corvette is parked next to a 2013 Silverado, maybe the pickup is more likely targeted?

On the other hand, part prices for these cars are sometimes astronomical, so maybe they're also coveted?

Any data out there?

[Leif A.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

Mark,
I would bet that all the vintage insurance companies (Haggerty, Grundy, etc) would have that data.

[Carmen R.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

I can't really help you out with any data.

I can see in your signature that your car is a manual, so that might work out in your favour. Recently in my area, car thieves have abandoned 2 late model cars in a row because they didn't do their home work and accidentally targeted manual shift cars. They were unable to drive them and just ran off. No one ever accused a car thief of being intelligent.

I'm also guessing that demands for parts for a 1970 corvette would be very limited and easily traceable.

Hopefully some law enforcement members can offer you better advise.

I'm assuming you've already taken some pre cautions and keep a close eye on your Corvette.

Perhaps you can raise your concerns with the motel/hotel security. Not sure if that would help though.

[Keith W.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

My friend had his 62 stolen - it took the Police approx 3 to 4 weeks to find the Corvette in a small lock up, looks like it was waiting to be shipped out to East Europe to be stripped down and possibly a quick flip to a resto mod.
Keith

My 1962 Corvette has been stolen from the Romford area around the 21st February 2017.


The car had been standing for a while and would not have started as I also removed the rotor arm and battery so it must have been trailered away. The locks on the garage had been cut with an angle grinder as had the padlock on the main gate. It was in a residential area and unfortunately there were no cameras to record what took place.




This is a very rare car with original fuel injection, a power hood and power windows.


Roman red exterior with a black interior and a white soft top.


Registration Number VSU 724


VIN. 20867S104480


Engine Number. 2104480 FI215RF


Block Casting Number 3782870.


I had owned this car for 22 years and would love to get it back but my fear is that it is on its way to some far flung place.


Please fell free to share.

[Mark E.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

Keith, I'm sorry about your loss. Sounds painful.

What's a power hood?

[Richard M.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

Mark,

I had to reread it a few times, but I don't think it was Kieth's car that was stolen over in England, it was his friend's '62. It appears it was recovered though, which is a great ending.

As far as theft threat....I recall a recent story about a 1960. Truck and trailer with 2 cars inside, one a '60 Corvette were stolen. Rig was recovered later, but the '60 was gone. A C(1 or 2) was stolen from a restaurant area at the Woodward Dream Cruise event while owners inside some time ago. So it does happen.

I myself have good insurance policy on my '59 and the wife's E-Type Jag. Both also have alarms that notify me if the car is opened up or bumped, tilted or moved. This makes for a more pleasant dinner out time when we can't get a seat by a window to keep the car in view.

Rich

[Paul H.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

We had a case in which I was involved as a Police Chief in my area where a 66 BB coupe and a 62 were stolen from a private residence, right out of the garage back in the 80's. We quickly identified the thief, a notorious convicted felon, and the cars were recovered in a trailer about 50 miles away. There is interest in these old Vettes, they just aren't usually as accessible to steal as newer vehicles.

When I travel in my older Corvettes I try to find 1 floor older style motels where you can park in front of your door. The statistics indicating that newer vehicles are more frequently stolen than older, classic cars is more a confirmation that more newer vehicles are available to be stolen, not so much a statement that there isn't interest in the old ones. Also alot of today's thieves are interested in the air bags and selling them on the black market.

[Dan D.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

My dime's worth...If you look at statistics, each year when the most stolen vehicles list comes out, the top of the list seems to be the most popular vehicles that were sold several years previous, ones generally coming out of factory warranty. This is the greatest potential market for used parts. Other than planned thefts of rare or really valuable cars in which case the thief already has a buyer...let's face it...it's not like you could park a Testa-Rosa in your driveway and put a "for sale" sign on it...I think most random car thefts are crimes of opportunity. Here, I think we need to use a little common sense. Anything you can do to make it less convenient for someone to grab your car is a point in your favor. Being aware of where you leave your car for starters. As primitive as it is...a "steering wheel club is a cheap investment. Now, we all know it will not deter a professional, but some "joyrider" might be discouraged. I don't travel much overnight with my car. But, on occasion...I've found the night deskman to be amenable to letting me park my car in front of the door where he can see it. Depending on circumstances, usually a $20. gets this done. In other words, all I'm saying is that we can help ourselves if we use some good old fashioned common sense. And, just in case, nothing trumps a good insurance policy

[Keith W.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

Keith, I'm sorry about your loss. Sounds painful.

What's a power hood?

Mark - Electric soft top lol

[Richard M.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

Mark - Electric soft top lol

Keith, I went to your profile before I posted and saw you're in England so I knew "Hood" meant "Top".

Over here Power "Hoods" are only on Restomods I guess over there they's be called Power "Bonnets".

Rich
PS......It was your friend's '62, not yours, correct?

[Stephen R.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

Dr Phil had his 57 Chevy stolen a few years ago. Some of these thefts maybe a "target of opportunity" theft.

[Mark E.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

I've found the night deskman to be amenable to letting me park my car in front of the door where he can see it. Depending on circumstances, usually a $20. gets this done.

I've done this a few times at "La Quinta" type motels with a portache outside the lobby. I usually offer $10 (I'm cheaper than you, Dan); one time the desk clerk declined saying he enjoyed looking at the car. Even so, I prefer motels where I can park in front of the room's door.

[Keith W.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

Keith, I went to your profile before I posted and saw you're in England so I knew "Hood" meant "Top".

Over here Power "Hoods" are only on Restomods I guess over there they's be called Power "Bonnets".

Rich
PS......It was your friend's '62, not yours, correct?

Yes it's a friend of mine Tom who's the vice chairman of the UK NCRS Chapter -

[Carmen R.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

Wow.

I'm surprised to hear that so many early Corvettes are targeted. I had mistakenly thought that they would stick out like a sore thumb compared to the late model silver and tan coloured Toyotas and Hondas. I didn't think car thieves would be caught dead with such highly and noticeable cars and/or parts.

[Joe L.]

Re: Is vintage Corvette auto theft a significant threat?

Is the theft rate for older Corvettes (say, C1-C4) high? How much do I really need to worry when the '70 is sitting overnight in a motel parking lot during road trips?

I've heard the most commonly stolen vehicles are high volume cars a few years old. That's because much auto theft is for parts.

Does this mean the typical auto thief is less interested in old cars? If an old Corvette is parked next to a 2013 Silverado, maybe the pickup is more likely targeted?

On the other hand, part prices for these cars are sometimes astronomical, so maybe they're also coveted?

Any data out there?

Mark------


Vintage cars are about as easy to steal as anything could be---absolutely child's play. Plus, the complete car (shipped in a shipping container to a foreign country) or "re-VINed" and sold can be very profitable. So, I consider theft possibility to be very high. When I finally get my 1969 back on the road, if I ever park it out-of-sight, especially overnight, I plan to use an immobilizing device like a "Denver Boot" plus a GPS-based locating device.