Legislators in Michigan have recently passed new legislation aimed at the unlawful use of sophisticated gadgets, such as AutoProPADs, in car theft in response to the growing problem of auto theft. The Detroit Free Press claims that these gadgets may program a blank key to give criminals illegal access, enabling them to steal expensive cars that can cost up to $70,000.
This action is in response to a startling increase in auto theft in Michigan, which saw over 21,000 thefts in 2021 and over 25,000 in 2022. Approximately 85% to 90% of thefts involving newly made vehicles have been linked to these advanced devices. In order to address this, ClickOnDetroit released a statement outlining the new legislation, which impose a 5-year felony for possession and a 10-year felony for intent to steal several vehicles using such devices. The goal of the legislation is to stop the widespread car thefts that have not only increased insurance premiums but also caused significant personal losses for people like Wayne resident Angelica Sears, who described the emotional distress brought on by the theft of a family truck filled with tools and sentimental objects.
In reaction to high-tech theft that affects not just car owners but also ripples across communities with related crimes including drug sales, high-speed chases, and even shootings, bipartisan legislation is being attempted. State Representative Alabas Farhat, a Democrat from Dearborn, told the Detroit Free Press, “It’s a ridiculous burden taxpayers bear,” emphasizing the wide-ranging effects that auto theft has on society.
The murder of Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Bradley Reckling last June, which is still a sobering reminder of the potential for violence these thefts entail, has tragically highlighted the urgent need for such laws. Efforts to regulate the industry had previously run into difficulties because similar bills had been defeated three years prior by a single vote, a story that Macomb Daily chronicles.
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