Car thefts climbed to a record 1.02 million in the U.S. during 2023, according to a recent report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, a not-for-profit association supported by the insurance industry.
Nationwide, vehicle thefts have climbed every year since 2019. Car thefts in 2023 were up 1% over the previous year.
Here are the states with the worst auto theft rates in 2023 — and some signs that 2024 might turn out a bit better for some of these places.
10. Texas
Auto theft rate in this state in 2023: 383 thefts per 100,000 people
Overall, drivers in Texas reported 115,013 auto thefts in 2023. The Dallas-Fort Worth metro saw thefts jump 13% last year.
9. Oregon
Auto theft rate in this state in 2023: 394.14 thefts per 100,000 people
Last year’s rash of auto thefts may be giving way to better news in 2024.
Police in Portland, Oregon, say their efforts to work with data analysts and scientists has helped them to better identify occupied stolen cars. And an overall crackdown has auto theft rates plummeting.
8. Maryland
Auto theft rate in this state in 2023: 427.99 thefts per 100,000 people
Maryland saw the number of auto thefts in the state jump by 63% in 2023, the second-biggest rise among all the states and the District of Columbia.
7. Missouri
Auto theft rate in this state in 2023: 441.61 thefts per 100,000 people
There were 27,279 auto thefts in Missouri in 2023. Legislation has been introduced in the state to create an Auto Theft Prevention Commission in hopes of turning the tide.
6. New Mexico
Auto theft rate in this state in 2023: 489.67 thefts per 100,000 people
Although auto theft was a problem in New Mexico last year, reports say thefts are down so far this year in the state’s biggest city, Albuquerque.
5. California
Auto theft rate in this state in 2023: 534.49 thefts per 100,000 people
Perhaps not surprisingly, the state with the largest population — California — also had the highest number of car thefts, with 208,668 vehicles being reported as stolen. But other places had higher theft rates.
4. Washington
Auto theft rate in this state in 2023: 554.44 thefts per 100,000 people
Washington saw 43,160 auto thefts in 2023, placing it at No. 4 in the nation in terms of both theft volume and theft rate.
3. Nevada
Auto theft rate in this state in 2023: 572.70 thefts per 100,000 people
Nevada saw an 18% increase in auto thefts in 2023, the fourth-largest increase among the 50 states.
2. Colorado
Auto theft rate in this state in 2023: 583.25 thefts per 100,000 people
There were 34,068 auto thefts in Colorado in 2023. However, the Denver metro area saw a 22% drop in auto thefts.
1. District of Columbia
Auto theft rate in this state in 2023: 1,149.71 thefts per 100,000 people
Auto theft jumped 64% from 2022 to 2023 in the District of Columbia, a bigger jump than in any of the 50 states.
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