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Data shows an estimated 642,926 property crimes were reported in the United States between January and April 2025, which is a decrease of 13.2% from the 740,559 reported in the same period of 2024. Violent crimes saw a decline, as well, dropping by nearly 11% from the previous year.
While these statistics are good news, the insurance industry is still left to foot the bill in the aftermath of most property crimes, including auto theft. Triple-I reports that auto thefts dropped by 16.7% from 2023 to 2024, but there were still more than 850,000 vehicles stolen last year.
The most frequently stolen vehicles include the Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Kia Soul.
These crimes are not always preventable if a thief is determined enough, but there are steps vehicle owners can take to make their ride a less attractive target. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) recommends taking a layered approach to theft prevention. This means putting protections in place that will make even the most seasoned thief struggle to steal the vehicle.
Implementing common sense measures is a good place to start, and the NICB recommends drivers:
- Roll up the windows, lock the doors and take the keys or fob with them when leaving the vehicle.
- Remove any valuables from the vehicle or secure them out of sight.
- Park in well-lit areas.
- Never leave a running car unattended.
These actions can be layered with additional security devices to better protect the vehicle, including:
- Steering wheel locks
- Vehicle immobilizers
- Brake locks
- GPS trackers
- Audible alarms
In the slideshow above, we’ll look at which U.S. states see the highest rates of crime according to U.S. News & World Report.
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