New Orleans may have some sky-high auto theft numbers, but we are not alone in the U.S.: a survey ranks New Orleans third among major cities for stolen cars.
Professor Peter Scharf, and LSU criminologist, says New Orleans has plenty of company when it comes to stolen vehicles.
''Out of 383 cities, we are at 64th, right next to Birmingham," said Scharf, "so we are in the top third."
Since the start of the year, New Orleans has seen over 900 stolen autos, which works out to over three a day.
With new cars averaging $30,000 to $40,000, and owners often leaving them unlocked, Scharf says it creates incentives for many crooks.
''There's a lot of money on tires, so that creates incentives for all three types: the juvenile crime, the chop shops, and also insurance fraud,'' Scharf said.
He says thieves resell the vehicles, which often end up in Mexico, or put on containers and shipped overseas.