Vehicle Thieves Don't Take a Holiday

Did you know that, statistically, you're far more likely to have your vehicle stolen while singing "Auld Lang Syne" with a champagne flute in your hand than "Joy to the World" with an eggnog?

That's according to analysis of National Crime Information Center vehicle-theft data by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Of 11 holidays examined, the study shows that New Year's Day is the top official holiday for auto theft while Christmas Day ranks at the very bottom.

Unofficial holiday, Halloween, takes the overall No. 1 spot for the crime, with 2,328 vehicle thefts in 2011, but the 2,286 thefts on New Year's Day in 2011 make it the federally recognized holiday with the most stolen cars. Christmas Day, meanwhile, saw only 1,347 thefts. So, unless a massive faction of the nation's auto thieves suddenly adopts a collective New Year's resolution to stop stealing cars, Jan. 1 is the day you'll want to be sure to heed a few safety precautions. The NCIB recommends the following:

• Park in well-lit areas.
• Keep packages in the trunk or out of sight.
• Make sure your vehicle is locked while parked.