There were 1,020,729 car thefts in the United States in 2023, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports – a 1% increase over the previous year. This continues the trend of vehicle theft rates steadily ticking upward since 2019. When looking at individual states, Washington, D.C. saw the highest increase last year, with a 64% bump in stolen autos. When accounting for population, the NICB reports the states that saw the highest vehicle theft rates last year were Washington, D.C., Colorado, Nevada, Washington and California. In order to protect themselves from auto theft, the NICB suggests drivers take the following precautions:
  • Lock their vehicle and roll up their windows.
  • Park in well-lit areas – preferably areas with security guards and/or cameras.
  • Never leave keys or valuables in plain sight in their car. Better yet, don't leave a key in your vehicle at all.
  • Install a security alarm on their ignition and doors.
  • Get an immobilizer to prevent hot wiring.
  • Get a GPS tracking device for their vehicle.
  • If their vehicle is stolen, report it to law enforcement and their insurer immediately to increase the chance of recovery.
"Preventing vehicle theft shouldn't just fall on law enforcement, because there are basic, common sense steps each of us can take to prevent this crime of opportunity," NICB President and CEO David J. Glawe said in a release. "It may sound simple, but a surprising number of vehicle thefts occur because owners forget to lock their doors or leave their keys inside. Taking a few seconds to ensure your vehicle is securely locked can significantly reduce its vulnerability to theft. Second, anti-theft devices like steering wheel locks, electronic immobilizers, and numerous aftermarket security systems can serve as effective deterrents against vehicle theft." Of course, some vehicle models are inherently more appealing to thieves because of things like their value, lack of security features or sellable parts. In the slideshow above, we'll look at the ten most commonly stolen vehicle models of last year, according to data from the NICB.

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