Car Theft: It's a Man's World

ST. LOUIS — Women apparently have not busted through the metal ceiling in the male-dominated world of auto theft, according to a new study in the August issue of Justice Quarterly. In other words, auto theft — as glamorized by such movies as Gone in 60 Seconds — is still a man's world.

The authors conducted interviews with 35 men and women actively involved in auto theft here. Women may be able to participate in auto theft alongside men, but they apparently don't have access to the "chop shops" that process stolen vehicles and parts, the study points out.

The study purports to examine the "gendered nature of motor vehicle theft."

"The findings indicate that while initiation into auto theft and property disposal networks are both governed by male gatekeepers, women experience greater barriers in gaining access to disposal networks than they do entry into auto theft offending," say authors Michael G. Cherbonneau and Christopher W. Mullins.

Mullins is an assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Cherbonneau is a doctoral student in the criminology program at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Inside Line says: Tell that to Angelina Jolie. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent