I always thought the explanation of the thefts was a little fuzzy. Didn't GM and TM explain there were lots of thefts in the neighbourhood but nobody reported them because their insurance rates would go up. Report them to whom? The insurance company? Or LE?
You can always call the police and not make an insurance claim. Lots of people do it. I had someone hit my car years ago and it had minor damage but I called insurance co. They did a pay out 300 dollars after deductible and my rates went up by 600 dollars the following year. When a woman backed into my car in a parking lot, I made a police report but no insurance report because I would be screwed again. She paid for my damage but not through insurance.