When the Covid 19 emerged in December 2019 in China, the rest of the world saw it as an alien epidemic, which would never arrive and could affect our way of life. But that was a mistake. It came like a bucket of cold water, to radically change everyone’s life.
The semi-empty streets, the remote work, and education, the tense calm and security that was breathed in all spaces, etc., changed something that we had always taken for granted: freedom of mobility.
Despite this, the pandemic also allowed a 20% drop in insured auto theft in Mexico in 2020, the second consecutive year in which this crime registered a decline.
However, now that we are gradually returning to the streets and living the famous new normality, there will be crucial challenges ahead, which will force us to rethink all our vehicle security strategies in this era known as Post Covid.
Vehicular security: A decline in 2020
Lower economic activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic decreased the theft of insured cars in Mexico, according to a report by the Asociación Mexicana de Instituciones de Seguros (AMIS).
At the end of 2020, this crime affected 68,100 units what it meant a reduction of 20% compared to 2019. According to the agency, in 2020 last year an average of 158 insured vehicles was stolen per day in México, in addition to they recovered 29 thousand 453 stolen units, equivalent to 43% of the total.
In addition, December was when the lowest car theft was recorded with 4,884 units, while the worst month was January with 6,821 units stolen, a month where the pandemic had not yet started.
For AMIS, the reduction in car theft was a direct consequence of the fall in economic activity due to the health emergency. We can add that it was also thanks to the mandatory quarantine by the authorities.
The new reality of vehicular security
Although last year we faced a decrease in the number of vehicle thefts, we do not have the same perspective for 2021 now that the confinement measures are beginning to relax. People are gradually returning to their daily activities in a new normal, such as going back to work physically, outdoor activities, going to visit a friend/family or just traveling.
We could say this means they have to make use of their vehicles, which makes them again in the crosshairs of criminals, those who love to steal.
Recaredo Arias, the general director of AMIS, commented: in the face of the new normal, the lack of refinement, and the economic contraction, the crime of vehicle theft is expected to register a rebound. We estimate that now that the activity is gradually returning to its normality, the crime of stole will increase a little.
As we know, vehicle theft is a crime that affects patrimony and puts family stability at risk, because for many people, it is not only a vehicle but a work tool too. For this reason, we must take care of our vehicle since its security and care is a topic that we must not take lightly.
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