Revealed – vehicle theft hotspots in the US

If you’re a car owner in the District of Columbia, there’s a higher chance your vehicle will be stolen, if figures from a new report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) are anything to go by.

According to NICB, overall vehicle thefts in the US went up from 1,008,756 in 2022 to 1,020,729 last year, with the District of Columbia posting the highest theft rate at 1,149.71 thefts per 100,000 people. It was highlighted that the figure is over three times the theft rate for the country.

In terms of percentage increase from 2022, below are the ‘vehicle theft hotspots’, as identified by NICB’s report.

NICB also noted that, of the reported vehicle thefts in 2023, the highest number came from California, accounting for 208,668 out of the national total.

Volume-wise, here are the hotspots when it comes to vehicle theft:

As mentioned, the theft rate is highest in the District of Columbia, with the top 10 states listed below.

David J. Glawe, president and chief executive of NICB, said: “Criminals are employing increasingly sophisticated methods to steal vehicles, including the use of advanced technology to bypass security systems. From keyless entry hacks to relay attacks on key fobs, perpetrators are exploiting vulnerabilities in modern vehicle security measures with alarming success rates.

“It is critical that industry and law enforcement work together to develop more effective strategies for combating auto theft and safeguarding public safety.”

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