Chicago: Where Cars Do the Walk of Shame (More Than You Think)
Ah, Chicago. City of wind, deep dish delights, and apparently, a booming black market for unwanted automobiles. If you've ever visited the Windy City and considered leaving your wheels unattended for a hot dog run, well, let's just say you might be greeted with a vacant parking spot and a sinking feeling in your gut upon your return.
So, How Bad is it Really?
Buckle up, because this is where things get interesting (and a tad scary). In 2023, Chicago saw a record-breaking 29,063 car thefts. That's right, more cars went AWOL than ever before. Basically, it was like a mass exodus of minivans and muscle cars.
Let's put that in perspective: If you took all those stolen cars and lined them up bumper-to-bumper, they'd stretch for over 135 miles. That's practically the distance from Chicago to Milwaukee, folks! And that's just one year's worth of missing metal.
But Wait, There's More! (Because Apparently, Car Thieves Don't Sleep)
If you're thinking "wow, that's a lot of cars, but surely it wasn't happening every single day," you'd be wrong. News reports tell us that on average, a staggering 65 cars were vanishing per day in Chicago during 2023. That's like a car theft every 22 minutes, people! You could practically set your watch by it.
Why the Sudden Rise in Sticky Fingers?
Now, this wouldn't be a proper detective story without a juicy motive, right? Theories abound as to why carjackings are becoming the new national pastime in Chicago. Some finger a lack of fancy security features in certain car models (looking at you, Kia and Hyundai!), while others point to a decrease in solved cases, making these joyrides a less risky proposition for would-be getaway artists.
Whatever the reason, one thing's for sure: Chicagoans are clutching their keys a little tighter these days.
Moral of the story? Keep your car locked, folks. And maybe invest in a steering wheel lock for good measure. Because in the Windy City, sometimes the only thing windier than the weather are the disappearing cars!
