Police Blame Missouri Law for Rise in Vanishing Cars

Why are thefts of older vehicles climbing in Missouri? And why are so many of them never seen again? St. Louis-area police who pondered what seemed like an improbable trend say they believe they have found the culprit — inside the Missouri statute book. A revised law, effective Aug. 28, 2012, made it easier for thieves to sell certain cars for scrap, officials say, pushing up auto theft rates and ultimately threatening to increase insurance rates.