More than 1 million vehicles were stolen across the United States in 2023, marking another year of rising numbers that challenge vehicle owners and law enforcement.
Increasingly sophisticated methods are being used by criminals to bypass modern security systems, with technology like keyless entry hacks and relay attacks on key fobs leading the way, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) said in a report issued on Tuesday.
Vehicle theft in the U.S. has been escalating since 2019, the NICB said, in frequency and technique. In 2019, vehicle thefts were significantly lower at 721,885, but by 2020 the numbers began to climb, reaching 873,080 that year, then surging to 1,008,756 in 2022, and culminating at 1,020,729 in 2023.
Urban centers and densely populated regions frequently emerge as hotspots for vehicle theft, as the NICB reported increases in areas including the District of Columbia, which saw the highest theft rate nationally at 1,150 per 100,000 people in 2023, more than triple the national rate.
Similarly, California reported the highest volume of vehicle thefts at 208,668 incidents. Texas and Florida followed with 115,013 and 46,213 stolen vehicles, respectively.
Five states—California, Texas, Washington, Colorado and Missouri—ranked among the top 10 for thefts by volume and made the list of states with the highest theft rates.
Areas with the largest year-over-year increases of auto thefts included Maryland with a 63 percent rise and Connecticut at 33 percent.
“Addressing the rising tide of vehicle thefts demands collaborative partnerships involving law enforcement agencies, government bodies, automotive manufacturers, and the community at large,” David J. Glawe, CEO of NICB, said in a statement.
“The repercussions of vehicle theft extend beyond financial losses, causing significant distress and inconvenience for affected individuals. Beyond the financial burden of replacing stolen vehicles and repairing damages, victims often endure emotional stress and disruption to their daily routines.”
Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Newsweek reached out to the NICB by email for comment on Thursday.
In areas featured less prominently on the list, like Chicago, Illinois, which took the fifth spot for auto thefts by volume, the city’s government has taken direct legal action against automakers.
In August 2023, Mayor Brandon Johnson filed a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai, spurred by an increase in thefts specifically involving models from the two manufacturers, which were found to lack standard anti-theft technology that could have prevented such vulnerability. After the vulnerability was widely shared on social media, the volume of thefts increased.
Other states, including New York, have stepped up efforts to prevent car theft. Governor Kathy Hochul in September of last year launched the Comprehensive Auto-Theft Reduction Strategy (CARS), committing $55 million to bolster local law enforcement and prevention efforts across the state.
The initiative aims to address the rise in auto thefts, particularly of certain Kia and Hyundai vehicles, by enhancing enforcement efforts, supporting local law enforcement with advanced crime analysis tools.
While the NICB has not yet issued its list of the most commonly stolen vehicles for 2023, last year, the Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Elantra and Kia Optima made the list, taking spots five, six and seven, respectively.
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