It's National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month. To mark the occasion, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is sharing important tips to help Americans protect their vehicles and personal items inside from theft. The federal agency says vehicle theft costs Americans billions of dollars annually. In Texas recently, law enforcement recovered $1.5 million in luxury cars after raiding an alleged vehicle theft ring.
"In DFW, an alleged theft ring that was being operated on the side of Dallas I grew up in was busted, " Car Pro Show Host Jerry Reynolds said. "They were stealing some very high end cars as you’ll see in this report from NBC 5."
NHTSA says there is one vehicle stolen about every 37 seconds - with summer being the highest season for vehicle theft. While vehicle thefts dropped by 17% from 2023 to 2024, more than 850,700 vehicles were still reported stolen. The top 10 states for vehicle thefts in 2024 were:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- Illinois
- Washington
- New York
- Colorado
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Missouri
Federal safety regulators say thieves steal more than vehicles, radios, and wheel covers. Some of the most popular items stolen from vehicles include air bags, GPS units, cell phones, iPads, laptops, and purses. Parts like doors, engines and transmissions are stripped and sold.
“Vehicle theft costs Americans billions every year, and we all pay the price through higher insurance premiums and the resources needed to investigate and prosecute these crimes. This National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, we’re offering simple tips everyone can use to keep their vehicle from joining the hundreds of thousands stolen every year,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser said.
Here are the NHTSA's tips to help secure your vehicle and belongings:
- Always park in well-lit, busy areas.
- Make sure all windows and doors are closed and locked when you park.
- Keep valuables hidden. Place any bags in the trunk where they can’t be seen, even if they’re empty.
- Never leave keys inside the vehicle, even while fueling at the gas station.
- Don’t leave your vehicle running unattended.
- If your vehicle has an immobilizer, use your key fob to lock it.
- Consider installing an anti-theft system such as a wheel lock or GPS tracking device if your vehicle didn’t come with one.