Joe works for a large auto-insurance company. He thought it wasn’t hurt to leave the key in the truck when he filled his gas tank at a self-service gas station. But moments later, as he was paying the money, he saw the truck being driven away.
In 1987, 1.6 million motor vehicles were stolen in the United States — one every 20 seconds. If current trends continue, experts predict annual vehicle thefts could be more than two millions by the end of the decade.
Vehicle theft is a common occurrence, which has a direct impact on over four million victims a year. The cost is surprising.
Many police officials blame professional thieves for the high volume (大量) of thefts. It is a major moneymaker for organized crime. Normally, stolen cars are taken to pieces and the parts are sold to individuals. but as many as 200,000 cars are smuggled (走私) out of the country every year. Most go to Latin America, the Middle East and Europe.
Only about 15 percent car thefts result in an arrest, because few police departments routinely conduct in-depth auto investigations. when thieves are arrested, judges will often sentence them to probation (缓刑), not immediately put them in prison because the prisons are overcrowded with violent criminals.
One exception is Michigan program that assigns 92 police officers to work full-time on the state’s 65,000 car theft cases a year. Since 1986, when the effort began, the state’s auto-theft rate has fallen from second in the nation to ninth.
How can you protect your car? If you live in a high-theft area or drive an expensive model, consider a security system. It may cost anywhere from $25 to $1,000. Some systems engage automatically-simply removing the key disables the fuel pump and the starter. When cares are equipped with such systems, thefts may drop by one-third. In some states, you may be able to use a device that sends radio signals, allowing stolen cars to be tracked by police.

Joe works for a large auto-insurance company.
乔在一家很大的汽车保险公司工作.
He thought it wasn’t hurt to leave the key in the truck when he filled his gas tank at a self-service gas station.
他在自助式加油站给油箱加油的时候认为把钥匙留在卡车是没什么害处的.
But moments later, as he was paying the money, he saw the truck being driven away.
但是在他稍后去付钱时发现卡车被开走了.

In 1987, 1.6 million motor vehicles were stolen in the United States — one every 20 seconds.
在1987年,美国有一百六十万辆交通工具被盗——平均20秒种一辆。
If current trends continue, experts predict annual vehicle thefts could be more than two millions by the end of the decade.
如果趋势照此发展下去，专家预计在十年后年度交通工具盗窃案将会比现在多二百万起。

Vehicle theft is a common occurrence, which has a direct impact on over four million victims a year.
交通工具盗窃案是经常发生的，每天会有4百余万人遭受直接影响。
The cost is surprising.
所造成的损失是惊人的。

Many police officials blame professional thieves for the high volume (大量) of thefts.
许多警务官员埋怨大量的小偷太专业了。
It is a major moneymaker for organized crime.
这是犯罪组织主要的赚钱方式。
Normally, stolen cars are taken to pieces and the parts are sold to individuals.
通常，被偷的汽车都被拆成零部件卖给个体（商贩）。
but as many as 200,000 cars are smuggled (走私) out of the country every year.
但是每年也有二十多万辆汽车被走私到国外。
Most go to Latin America, the Middle East and Europe.
多数走私到了拉美，中东和欧洲。

Only about 15 percent car thefts result in an arrest, because few police departments routinely conduct in-depth auto investigations.
只有大约百分之15的偷车贼遭到逮捕，因为很少有警察部门主动地尽职尽责地进行深入的调查工作。
when thieves are arrested, judges will often sentence them to probation (缓刑), not immediately put them in prison because the prisons are overcrowded with violent criminals.
当偷车贼被逮捕到案，法官通常会判他们缓刑而不是立即把他们投入监狱，因为监狱已经因为有大量的暴力罪犯而拥挤不堪了。

One exception is Michigan program that assigns 92 police officers to work full-time on the state’s 65,000 car theft cases a year.
一个例外是密歇根州的方案，他们派遣92名警官全职处理每年的六万五千件汽车的案子。
Since 1986, when the effort began, the state’s auto-theft rate has fallen from second in the nation to ninth.
自从1986年以来，通过这样的努力，本州的汽车失盗率已从全车第二下降到了第九的位置。

How can you protect your car?
你会怎样保护你的汽车？
If you live in a high-theft area or drive an expensive model, consider a security system.
如果你生活在高盗窃率地区或者拥有一辆很贵的车，那么请考虑一下防盗系统。
It may cost anywhere from $25 to $1,000.
在不同的地方这可能花去你25到1000美元。
Some systems engage automatically-simply removing the key disables the fuel pump and the starter.
有些防盗系统会在拔出钥匙的同时简单自动地切断燃油泵和起动装置。
When cares are equipped with such systems, thefts may drop by one-third.
如果车辆装备了这样的系统，被盗案可能会降低三分之一。
In some states, you may be able to use a device that sends radio signals, allowing stolen cars to be tracked by police.
有些情况下，你可以使用一个装置发射无线电信号，让警察可以追踪被盗的车辆。