Rochester has highest car theft increase in the U.S. Most suspects are 13 to 18 years old

Monroe County's continuing rash of car thefts is far worse than other jurisdictions, even those that have seen similar spates of the crime.

As summer continues, so do the crimes ― at a staggering rate. There are near-daily reports of thefts that end with property damage but could have been far more dangerous. On Wednesday, a 15-year-old was accused of stealing a car in the city, hitting another car, then crashing into an Irondequoit home. The teen was mildly injured and taken to the hospital.

This comes at a time when violent crime, while still at high levels, is starting to abate in Rochester and elsewhere. But, unlike other crimes that rose nationwide during the pandemic, such as shootings and homicides, Rochester and Monroe County are largely outliers with its recent rate of vehicle thefts. Yes, other areas have seen increases, but not like what is being witnessed locally.

"It's not a statewide trend," said David Phelps, the director of the Monroe County Crime Analysis Center.

For instance:

• The nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice recently reported that Rochester's increase in stolen car reports was the worst in the nation over the first six months of 2023 when compared to 31 other mid-sized and large cities. That increase, about 355% according to CCJ, was more that twice that of the next highest city, Cincinnati, with an increase of 162%.

• Monroe County had more than 2,300 car theft reports the first four months of the year, the vast majority of those within the Rochester city limits, according to the Monroe County Crime Analysis Center. Erie County, for instance, is nearly 25% larger in population than Monroe County and had about 800 fewer incidents of vehicle thefts during the same period. (Monroe County's stolen car incidents totaled 585 during the first four months of 2022.)

• The number of stolen car incidents from the county's Crime Analysis Center does not reveal the extent of the problem. For instance, there have been multiple thefts from some dealerships, but those count as a single "incident."

Kia and Hyundai continue to be the brands largely targeted, partly fueled by social media instructions that make the theft easier. The city of Rochester and other municipalities have announced plans to sue Hyundai and Kia, alleging that the companies failed to install standard anti-theft technology and in turn cost millions in police response.

Police and others in the law enforcement field see that, much as with violence, a small number of youthful offenders may be mostly responsible for the car thefts, whether engaging themselves or motivating others. How to reach those offenders is part of what is now driving possible responses.

For victims, the consequences can be costly and time-consuming: hassles with insurance over coverage and replacement cars, the cost of repairs or insurance deductibles, and lost time from work. And, for those on limited income, the fallout is more onerous.

Even the failed attempts at theft, and they are plentiful, can leave victims dealing with financial struggles.

"It was broken into and they tore out all the steering gear both times," Annette Stanford, a 70-year-old who lives in an Irondequoit apartment complex, said of two attempts this year to steal her 2018 Kia Forte. "The insurance company, they paid for the repair minus $500 each time.

"I'm on Social Security. I had less than $100 in my checking account. My son had to buy me some groceries. It's a tremendous hardship."

Questions about the trend

There are no clear answers to what is driving the trend. Oftentimes, according to multiple reports with past incidents, the thefts are a precursor to a joy ride and an attempt to impress friends. Rarely if ever are the cars stripped for parts and sold in an underground market. Instead, the vehicles often end up crashed, posing hazards for both bystanders and the thieves.

Other times, the stolen cars have provided transportation for shootings.

Youths have been far and away those most accused with the recent crimes, most between 13 and 18, according to Brandon Zicari, a tactical crime analyst at the crime analysis center. Many of the youthful suspects have been accused of multiple thefts, with some suspected in as many as four separate incidents.

The center has become a hub of activity focused on stolen cars. With most crimes, a large digital map that swallows up a wall can display crime locations as an informational tool for police investigations.

With the mapping device, the center can create "hot spots" where thefts have been more prominent. The area bounded by Park and East avenues and Goodman and Alexander streets has been the site of numerous vehicle thefts, said Ryan Pierce, the lead information technology analyst at the center. Charlotte has also spiked during the summer months.

The map allows daily and longer-term looks at crime incidents.

"Clearly it’s a trend but it's definitely a crime of opportunity," Ruthie Jeantel, the center's lead analyst, said of car thefts. "... Mainly it's individuals who are younger, out of school … and they kind of pick up on the trend."

The accused are "a range of economic status," she said.

Prosecutors who handle crimes in what is known as Youth Part, where some teens accused of felonies initially appear before going to criminal or Family Court, also see firsthand the surging number of thefts and accusations of stolen cars.

"2023 was when it really started," said Assistant District Attorney Matthew Schiano, who has worked in Youth Part for 15 months. "It seems that I have a new stolen car case at least every day."

Whether the accused lands in Family Court, Youth Part, or criminal court, a decision driven by age, it's unlikely he or she will be held in the youth detention center or in jail afterward. Family Court does not have a bail system, though the accused can be held in the detention center if deemed likely to commit a crime. In criminal court, car theft is a nonviolent crime not eligible for bail.

On a recent day in Youth Part, the docket was dominated by accusations of car theft. Two of the defendants were teens accused of stealing a 2018 Hyundai Elantra, valued at $11,000, then ditching it at the Walmart on Hudson Avenue after a short police chase.

One of the accused returned home with her parents after a court arraignment; another had bail set at $1,500, held because he was already facing a violation of probation on an earlier crime.

Brian Green, who heads the county's youth prosecution office, which handles Family Court offenses, said his office has seen a 100% increase in cases this year, a jump driven by the auto thefts.

There is perhaps a hopeful glimpse: "It appears that the pace has slowed slightly," he said.

Trying to reach the teens

Shanterra Mitchum, Rochester program director for the Center for Teen Empowerment, said she still sees the impact of the pandemic with teens in struggling neighborhoods, and she cannot separate those difficult months and years from the car theft epidemic.

"I believe that the community is really hurting right now," she said. Teens "had this huge gap of isolation and quarantine in the middle of some of their developmental stages."

"I believe the community is saying, 'What can we do?' I live in this community. I work in this community. I'm raising my children in this community. I'm fully invested."

The criminal justice system has often done little to redirect young people but, Mitchum said, it needs to be shaped to provide help for those youngsters accused and found guilty of crimes.

"When I think about the criminal justice system, historically it has not been a way to rehabilitate young people in our community," she said. "What happens when they show up in court? What happens after that? Are there programs? Are there opportunities?"

City and county officials are trying to shape programs, both on the law enforcement and social service end, to respond to the car theft rash. The county recently announced a program called Juvenile Enhanced Diversion Stabilization, or JEDS, designed to intervene with youth accused of crimes.

"There has to be a disruption in criminal activity committed by our young residents," County Executive Adam Bello said when announcing the program in June. "Our Probation Department has developed a workaround to close the gaps in state legal system and has created a program to break up the cycle of criminal activity by juveniles and teens."

With the program, probation officials intervene with youths accused of crime, typically in the interim between an accusation and disposition, and try to identify needs for the teen and family. According to county spokesman Gary Walker, there have so far been only five cases of suspected recidivism with 90 probation interventions through JEDS.

Those who have been victimized, and those fearful they could be victims, hope that something will stem or alter the tide. Irondequoit's Annette Stanford said the two attempts to steal her Kia have persuaded her to sell the car "just for peace of mind." She expects to take a significant loss.

A friend had her car stolen from a church parking lot, Stanford said. Another friend who lives in the same apartment complex as Stanford "told me she can't sleep at night. She keeps looking out the window."

"The more I think about it, the more disturbed I get," Stanford said. "I don’t have an answer. We need to focus on the parents, helping the parents get themselves together.

"Maybe we should ask the teenagers. They have the answer to everything."

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester NY has the highest care theft increase in the country