Penza, 20 February 2013. PenzaNews. 102 vehicle thefts were registered in the Penza region in 2012, which is 6,4% less than in 2011. This was announced by the head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Penza region Andrei Kataev during a meeting with the journalists on Wednesday, February 20.

“At present 54 thefts have not been solved. Thus, we were able to achieve the increase of percentage of crime cases solved to 43,8%,” he said, noting that in 2011 this index was 36%.

According to Andrei Kataev, the highest number of vehicle thefts in the region was registered in Penza.

He added that in 2012, 249 vehicle thefts were committed in Penza, 65 of which remain unsolved.

“The increase in the number of such crimes made 14,2% in 2012, and the percentage of crimes solved decreased from 79,1% to 71,7%,” he concluded.