Sound Politics: 15% decrease, or 200% increase?

February 16, 2007

15% decrease, or 200% increase?

Today's P-I reports that "Auto theft in Seattle drops 15 percent in year".

More sophisticated law enforcement and tougher penalties have made a dent in the recent rise, but there are still 3 times as many auto thefts than there were in 1985.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at February 16, 2007 11:06 AM | Email This

Comments

1. Hey the Vote By Mail report press release and plan is out:

http://www.metrokc.gov/exec/news/2007/0215vote.aspx

There's a link to the plan from the press release.

Posted by: Gentry on February 16, 2007 11:18 AM

2. "jimmie's simple solutions" for car theft & graffitti:

victims/property owners get opportunity (free of lawsuits) to take offender(s) to garages/homes and "explain property rights" with use of a household vise. crunch crunch goes fingers. next day, everyone involved has an "enlightenment."

it's easy on the tax system & easy on law enforcement (who--law enforcement--is the only industry today--who are persecuted for just doing the job we ask of them)

trust me--the thought of my pinkies in a crusher is enough to deter any silly behavior later!! draconian? perhaps. but these are rough times.

Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on February 16, 2007 11:28 AM

3.
I think there's just too many people here.

You know what's interesting -- look up homes under $150,000 in Lexington, KY.

You'll see scads of beautiful 3-bedroom homes.

Why would anyone want to stay here if they could leave!?

Posted by: John Bailo on February 16, 2007 11:34 AM

4. John - What's stopping you?

Posted by: Right said Fred on February 16, 2007 11:38 AM

5. Acording to the chart, we're right back to where we were in 1999. Way to go Seattle.

Posted by: Ken on February 16, 2007 11:46 AM

6. Lies, damned lies, and statistics. Your boss says, I'll give you a 40% pay cut today, but next week, you'll get a 60% pay raise. Guess what - you just got screwed.... Anyone can use statistics to make almost any point they want. Just give me numbers.

Posted by: Anon on February 16, 2007 12:25 PM

7. Yeah all the car thefts moved to Mukilteo. )-:

last year we had many cars taken, 140 I think.
Were only a city of 19.000.

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on February 16, 2007 12:26 PM

8. Does anyone here know how many more people are in Seattle now than in 1985?

The only way those kind of stats can make any sense is if they are based on a per capita basis.

Posted by: Vince on February 16, 2007 12:55 PM

9. There are two kinds or statistics: the kind you look up and the kind you make up!

He who uses statistics, as a drunken man uses a lampposts - for support rather than illumination!!

Statistics are like alienists - they will testify for either side!!!

Posted by: Pacific Grove Phlash on February 16, 2007 01:13 PM

10. Hey Vince...

To answer your question about Seattle Population:

1960...rank 19th...557,087
1990...rank 21st...516,259
2000...rank 24th...563,374
2005...rank 23rd...573,911

Posted by: Pacific Grove Phlash on February 16, 2007 01:30 PM

11. I've been to Lexington, KY, I'd personally much rather live here. It's really boring out there, jobs are more stagnant, and the nature is nowhere near as stunning as out here.

Feel free to leave at any time John.

Posted by: Cato on February 16, 2007 02:03 PM

12. The solution is simple - mandatory death sentence to car thieves after the 2nd arrest. I propose hanging them next to major roads.....

Posted by: H Moul on February 16, 2007 02:05 PM

13. Unless the legislature actually makes it easier to prosecute someone for actually stealing a car and stiffen the penalties drastically nothing will change. Usually they can only prosecute someone for driving property that does not belong to them instead of actual car theft, which carries a stiffer penalty, because no one actually saw them steal the car.

Posted by: TrueSoldier on February 16, 2007 05:54 PM