Some vehicles that are fraudulently reported as stolen instead may have been traded for drugs. Stolen cars also are sometimes used in drug trafficking, drive-by shootings and armed robberies. These cars, often abandoned after they serve their purpose, help the perpetrator elude authorities, since he has no legal tie to the car involved. Partners in Preventing Auto Theft Insurance incentives and education; state and federal initiatives, including information systems that track and identify vehicles; and improved car technology have contributed to the decline in auto theft in many cities and states
