Unfortunately, nobodies don't make headline news. According to a report submitted to Malacanang by Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, head of the Highway Patrol Group, car theft incidence in 2010 is down compared to previous years. Yet today, car theft is high on everyone's list of things to fear thanks to Media coverage of high-profile carjacking-murder cases.“A combined 1,739 MVs and MCs were reported stolen in 2010, while from 2000-2009, the yearly average recorded was 2,134,” Espina said in his report.
He also said vehicle robbery incidents last year were 18.5 percent lower than the reported annual average of stolen vehicles during the period 2000 to 2009.
An average of 1,186 motor vehicles was reported stolen yearly during the period 2000 to 2009, compared to 761 stolen motor vehicles in 2010, Espina said.
This meant that car robbery cases last year were 37.6 percent lower than the yearly average for the past nine years.
It seems awareness about crimes increase when the victims are big VIPs -- cases which Media sniff out for their ability to catch the attention of a population of idle minds -- and not because of an actual change in their rate of incidence. Crimes wherein victims are nobodies -- that's where the statistics are.
Sad to know that the numbers are still going up despite the efforts of the owners, and yes, some of these incidents don’t make it to the newsroom. Instead, they are added to the statistics. That is why I had my car insured. A friend of mine recommended MAPRE Insular’s comprehensive car insurance (http://www.mapfre.com.ph) since it covers all the bases, including car theft.
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