How dealers are battling the car theft epidemic

Welcome to Industry Spotlight, a new show on the Car Dealership Guy Podcast hosted by Sam D'Arc. In each episode, Sam highlights the most compelling dealerships and innovative companies in automotive, diving into key trends, best practices, and insights from those shaping the future of automotive retail.

Today’s guests are Aaron Zeigler, CEO of Zeigler Automotive Group and Melissa High, vice president of client success at LoJack, who discuss the winning strategies for car dealers to address the shifting threat of car theft on their lots.

You can stream the full episode now on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple.

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1. Vehicle theft is on the rise.

In the previous 20 years, the Zeigler Automotive Group had 1 - 2 cars stolen off the lot. But as the group expanded to 41 stores in the Midwest, there were a lot more cars to keep track of. Then, COVID hit, and Zeigler lost 76 vehicles to theft in just 6 months. They couldn’t recover those vehicles, which ended up costing the business about $4 million.

2. Combatting theft and mitigating risks.

Aaron explains that — between insurance and lost inventory — the rising thefts were making it cost-prohibitive to do business. So, for the first time ever — Zeigler sought a world-class expert, Mary Ann Thomas, to assist. Mary Ann has a military background and previously ran the largest police force in the country. She brought a lot of new processes like GPS vehicle tracking and geo-fencing the stores. So — if a car moves at night — Zeigler leadership knows instantly.

3. Learning from the experts.

Aaron explains that theft is not his area of expertise, and in addition to hiring Mary Ann, he visited the Hendrick Auto Group to see how they’re handling theft as well. While he never dreamed he would have a Head of Security, it’s turned out to be one of the most important roles at the dealer group. While Zeigler is still dealing with some theft, they only had a total of 2 cars stolen last year out of ~80,000.

4. Vehicle tacking solutions.

Zeigler ended up installing LoJack’s latest GPS technology on all of the group’s inventory. While Aaron says it was a new added expense, it was lightyears more affordable than losing inventory. If a vehicle is moved in an unauthorized way — LoJack can send the location insights and other relevant data directly to law enforcement. And without the collaboration of law enforcement — recovering stolen vehicles becomes nearly impossible.

LoJack by Solera - LoJack has transformed vehicle security with cutting-edge tracking systems and real-time law enforcement integration. Its innovative solutions provide dealerships and consumers with peace of mind by enabling rapid vehicle recovery and deterring sophisticated theft tactics. Learn more at lojack.com.

5. The evolution of car theft.

When we think of vehicle theft, we think of smashed windows, cut wires, screwdrivers, and all sorts of other physical ways to enter a car. But the reality is — auto theft has gotten a lot more sophisticated. Criminals are now devising digital key fobs that bypass security and allow easy entry. On top of that, these organized crime rings have studied each vehicle meticulously and very often disable the manufacturer tracking devices quickly. Once they defeat the manufacturer’s system, they’ll usually park the car for 24 hours. However, LoJack’s systems are not so easily found or accessible and provide a second-layer of protection that aids law enforcement.

6. Speed is everything.

Successful vehicle recovery has to happen fast. When vehicles are equipped with sophisticated GPS tracking — law enforcement can be notified faster. In the case of the manufacturer, dealers have to dial a 1-800 number and jump through hoops to report a stolen vehicle. This eats up a lot of precious time. But with LoJack, stolen vehicles can be reported to law enforcement in seconds with a single press of a button.

7. The power of vehicle tracking data.

The data LoJack collects is instrumental to vehicle recovery. Once a stolen vehicle is validated by LoJack and dropped into their law enforcement database app — law enforcement across the U.S. can see things like turn-by-turn directions, trip history, and more. But it goes beyond theft. Identity fraud is also getting much more sophisticated, and if a fraudulent transaction does go through — dealers can find the car and try to get it back.

8. Auto crime costs $8 billion every year.

And for consumers — their vehicles are their only means of transportation. It’s also impacting insurance rates. In fact, over 1 million vehicles were stolen in 2023 — an 11% increase since 2020. Before the launch of LoJack’s law enforcement app, Melissa’s team collaborated with officers to incorporate features to make it more user-friendly. These updates, like alerts for carjacking cases, empower officers to work safer and more effectively.

9. Bridging the knowledge gap.

Education is vital to staying ahead of theft tactics. The International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI) plays a pivotal role by offering training sessions to law enforcement, dealerships, and private sector professionals. These sessions cover current theft trends, like advanced key programming and identity theft-related purchases, equipping participants with the knowledge to prevent theft and recover stolen vehicles more effectively.

10. Peace of mind.

For consumers, features like geofencing add practical security by allowing users to set boundaries and receive alerts if their vehicle moves unexpectedly — useful in high-theft scenarios like hotel or valet parking. Dealers also benefit as the technology simplifies operations, helping staff quickly locate vehicles on large lots and keeping dealer inventories safe.

You can stream the full episode now on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple.

*Here’s a rare chance for you to influence our podcast episodes and content for 2025! Take our quick listener survey (it takes under 2 minutes).

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