The American motoring ublic is being taken for an xpensive ride by widening ofor vehicle theft. Sen. Charles H. Percy, -Ill. called vehicle theft ne of the nation’s “few owth industries” in a ongressional Record tatement. “During 1979 close to 1.1 illion vehicles were tolen,” Percy said, “with he theft rate increasing an larming 10.6 percent over 978 according to FBI ords.” Percy said vehicle theft as become the nation’s astest-growing property crime. “It is a $4 billion problem with motorists paying a hefty “theft tax” as part of their insurance premiums.” Teenage joyrider thefts once dominated the stolen vehicle picture. Not any more. High profits and low risks have attracted hardened professionals and organized groups to the crime. Further, Percy stressed, “clandestine garages or ‘chop shops’ where stolen vehicles are dismantled for their lucrative sheet metal crash replacement parts are flourishing.” Lamentably, police could recover only 58.4 percent of the value of stolen vehicles in 1979 – an all-time low. In suburban communities, vehicle theft was the second-fastest-growing crime last year, increasing 13.6 percent over 1978, To counter the disturbing trend, Sen. Joseph R. Biden, D-Del. and Percy have introduced a Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act, intended to assist law enforcement in several ways. A companion House bill, with Rep. William Green, R-N.Y. as princiapl sponsor, coordinates with the Senate legislation. Percy said the level of support for the measure is impressive. A long list of endorsements includes the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Congress should waste no time approving the legislation. A police crackdown and greater security measures by vehicle owners should be “musts” also. This is a “growth industry” as Percy called it, that needs to be converted to the “ailing industry” list post haste.