These Are The States Where Your Car Is More Likely To Be Stolen – Jalopnik

2025 knowledge reveals the variety of vehicles stolen within the U.S. dropped by 23% to 334,114 within the first half of the yr in comparison with the identical interval in 2024, when 435,754 vehicles had been reported stolen within the first 6 months. To put that into perspective, that is roughly 1,856 vehicles stolen each day thus far this yr, in comparison with about 2,421 in 2024. Better nonetheless, a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), a non-profit group that compiles knowledge on automobile crimes within the U.S., notes that incidents of automotive theft may decline much more if the present development holds. NICB President and CEO David J. Glawe identifies collaboration between legislation enforcement, automakers, insurers, and his personal group as the principle issue behind the discount in automobile thefts in America. 

However, regardless of the progress, residents in some states nonetheless face persistent automotive theft incidents. If you reside in a state the place automobile theft is widespread or have a automotive that is extra liable to being stolen, contemplate taking proactive measures to keep away from being a sufferer. These can embody utilizing a steering lock or a Faraday case, in addition to putting in a tracker. Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) encourages automotive homeowners to park in well-lit, public areas (or automotive parks with CCTV or automobile patrols) as a method of prevention. It’s additionally a good suggestion to roll up your home windows, lock your doorways, and take keys and belongings with you while you park to keep away from drawing consideration to your automobile. That being mentioned, the District of Columbia tops the desk for automobile theft threat, at round 373 incidents per 100,000 residents, however does not make it right here for apparent causes.

Residents in Missouri are considerably extra more likely to expertise automotive theft than these in different Midwestern states. In the primary half of 2025, about 142 autos per 100,000 residents had been stolen within the state, making it the fifth-worst U.S. state for automotive theft. Looking at absolute numbers, a whopping 27,279 vehicles had been stolen within the Show Me State in 2023, with thieves taking one other 23,500 in 2024. This yr, there have been round 9,000 automobile thefts between January and June.

Not to anybody’s shock, Kansas City and St. Louis are the toughest hit cities in Missouri, with 6,497 and 4,716 thefts, respectively, within the first half of 2025. Springfield is a distant third, with a reported 540 automobile thefts. The Hyundai Elantra was probably the most stolen automotive in Missouri within the first 6 months of 2025, with 322 nabbed throughout that interval. The second most stolen automotive in Missouri was the Hyundai Sonata, with 271 lacking. The Kia Optima (249), Ford F150 Series (183), and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (179) spherical out the highest 5.

149.04 autos have been flagged as stolen out of each 100,000 residents within the Centennial State in the course of the first 6 months of 2025, making it one of many states within the U.S. experiencing probably the most stolen vehicles. Thefts of Hyundai Elantras had been the commonest in 2024, with 998 models reported stolen. According to the identical 2024 statistics, Colorado noticed 430.04 vehicles pinched per 100,000 residents. That determine is properly down from 583.25 in 2023, which underscores the year-after-year decreases at the moment being seen.

Car thefts are most certainly in Denver, which boasts one of many highest automobile crime charges within the nation, with 964 thefts per 100,000 residents. That locations it second solely behind Bakersfield in California among the many cities that rank highest for automotive theft within the U.S. Pueblo, one other Colorado metropolis, had fewer thefts than each Denver and Bakersfield however registered sufficient stolen autos to position third in The Zebra’s listing of worst U.S. cities for automotive theft.

It’s dangerous sufficient that New Mexico is among the most costly U.S. states to personal a automotive. Used automotive costs within the state are out of attain for a lot of at over $35,000, and automotive insurance coverage premiums are already excessive, with the typical New Mexican paying over $2,000 for full protection. Facing the danger of theft on high of all of the already hefty bills does not fairly sound like a fascinating prospect. But it is the truth of life in New Mexico, the place, in line with the NICB, 167.54 out of each 100,000 residents have been victims of automotive theft within the first half of 2025.

Meanwhile, Albuquerque is the worst metropolis in New Mexico for automotive theft, with authorities recording 710 automobile thefts for each 100,000 residents. On a constructive word, New Mexico automobile theft reveals indicators of decline from yr to yr. NICB knowledge reveals that the speed in 2024 was 458.24 thefts for each 100,000 residents, which represents a slight drop from the earlier yr when 489.67 autos had been stolen for each 100,000 residents. As for the vehicles themselves, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is probably the most at-risk mannequin within the Land of Enchantment, with 335 models stolen in 2024.

Roughly 168 out of each 100,000 registered automotive homeowners in Nevada fell sufferer to automotive theft within the first half of 2025. As you’d count on, sure cities skilled larger automobile crime charges than others. Among the Nevada cities and cities that noticed drivers falling sufferer to probably the most automotive theft in 2024, North Las Vegas is the placement with the best theft charge, with 700.44 autos stolen for each 100,000 residents.

Of the vehicles mostly focused by thieves within the Silver State, the Hyundai Elantra leads the best way, with 832 vehicles being stolen in 2024. Again, this is not shocking, contemplating Kias and Hyundais are identified to be among the many most stolen automobile manufacturers in America. The foremost purpose for that is that older Hyundai and Kia fashions, comparable to these manufactured between the 2011 and 2021, weren’t fitted with digital engine immobilizers that forestall them from being began with out the best key.

There had been over 13 million vehicles registered in California as of 2023, which may trigger the state to expire of license plate numbers this yr. With so many vehicles in a single state, it is no shock {that a} good quantity have been focused by thieves. Some 176,230 autos, price roughly $1.56 billion, had been stolen in California in 2024, in line with the California Highway Patrol. Now, in line with NICB knowledge, there have been 178.01 stolen autos per 100,000 residents within the Golden State between January and June 2025.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Hyundai Sonata, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Honda Accord are identified to be amongst California’s most focused autos, with older fashions typically extra weak to theft because of their lesser security measures. The brazen thieves of California appear to have a robust fondness for high-riding autos, specifically, with private vehicles and SUVs alone accounting for a staggering 43.44% of the autos stolen within the state in 2024. NICB’s knowledge present that the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 was probably the most focused automobile, with 6,248 thefts.