Great news to report regarding auto thefts. Last year, they fell to pre-pandemic levels according to new data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). Last year's sharp decline of 17% over 2023 follows four years of surging vehicle thefts. The NICB says not only is it the first time vehicle thefts have dropped below the one million mark since 2021, but it also marks the largest annual decrease in stolen vehicles in the last 40 years.
“The overall decrease in stolen vehicles nationwide is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between law enforcement, multi-jurisdictional auto theft task forces, governing bodies, vehicle manufacturers, and NICB,” said David J. Glawe, President and CEO of NICB. “Collectively, these groups used data and intelligence to develop actionable strategies to help local authorities investigate and prosecute offenders and to prevent vehicle theft from occurring in the first place.”
The NICB says it assisted thousands of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in 2024 on theft investigations, aiding in the identification of complex vehicle theft rings and the recovery of hundreds of thousands of stolen vehicles across the United States.
Here's a look at theft numbers since 2020:
U.S. Vehicle Thefts 2020-2024
- 2024 - 850, 708
- 2023 - 1,020,729
- 2022 - 1,008,756
- 2021 - 932,329
- 2020 - 880, 595
Washington, Nevada, and Oregon led the nation with the largest decreases in vehicle thefts year over year. The only state to experience an increase in vehicle thefts in 2024, increasing 2% over the year prior, was Maine.
To keep from bring a victim of vehicle theft, the NICB offers these tips:
- Do not leave your keys in your vehicle
- Do not leave the area while your vehicle is running
- Park in well-lit areas
- Close and lock all windows and doors when you park
- Hide valuables out of sight, such as in the glove box or trunk
- If your vehicle is stolen, call law enforcement and your insurer immediately. Reporting a vehicle as soon as possible after it is stolen increases the chance of recovery
For more stats on auto thefts, see the entire NICB report here.
Photo Credit: Fractal Pictures/Shutterstock.com.