The Top 10 States With The Most Car Thefts

December 18, 2024 | Jesse Singer

The Top 10 States With The Most Car Thefts

The State Of Car Thefts In America

For this one, we'll be looking at two numbers: The total car thefts by state and the states with the highest percentage increase in thefts from the previous year.

Stolen Car States L

10: Total Thefts

Missouri: 27,279

Just to note: The numbers presented are for the year 2023—as 2024 hasn't ended yet and the compilation of those stats will take some time once it is.

Busch Stadium Parking in St. Louis Jeramey Jannene, Flickr

10: Percentage Increase

Louisiana, North Carolina, & Tennessee: 10%

And this would be the increase from 2022 to 2023.

Overview of Newfound Gap parking lot daveynin, Flickr

9: Total Thefts

Georgia: 28,171

Traffic Jam in Atlanta, Georgia Matt Lemmon, Flickr

9: Percentage Increase

Nebraska: 12%

N. 27th Street located in Nebraska, USA Hanyou23, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

8: Total Thefts

Ohio: 31,647

Short North Arts District in Columbus, Ohio Jsjessee, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

8: Percentage Increase

Pennsylvania: 13%

Buckingham Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania Dough4872, Wikimedia Commons

7: Total Thefts

New York: 32,715

Cars on the streets of New York City Vlada Karpovich, Pexels

7: Percentage Increase

New York: 15%

People and Cars in New York City, USA Mikołaj Kołodziejczyk, Pexels

6: Total Thefts

Colorado: 34,068

Colorado is also second on the list of "thefts per 100,000 people": 583.25

Colfax Avenue located in Aurora, Colorado Ken Lund, Flickr

6: Percentage Increase

Delaware: 15%

Wilmington Skyline from I-95 North in Delaware formulanone, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

5: Total Thefts

Illinois: 41,528

Busy Jackson Boulevard located in Chicago, Illinois Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

5: Percentage Increase

Massachusetts: 16%

Aerial view of Boston cityscape, Massachusetts Bert Kaufmann, Flickr

4: Total Thefts

Washington: 43,160

Thefts Per 100,000 People: 554.44

The city of Seattle, Washington in the fall Wonderlane, Flickr

4: Percentage Increase

Nevada: 18%

Thefts Per 100,000 People: 572.70

A View of the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Łukasz Kondracki, Pexels

3: Total Thefts

Florida: 46,213

Downtown Miami Street Scene Алексей Васильев, Pexels

3: Percentage Increase

Connecticut: 33%

Looking Down Pratt Street Toward Main Street Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

2: Total Thefts

Texas: 115,013

Thefts Per 100,000 People: 383.00

Evening Traffic in Houston, Texas Caribb, Flickr

2: Percentage Increase

Maryland: 63%

Thefts Per 100,000 People: 27.99

Baltimore, Maryland Downtown Kimberlyshorter, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1: Total Thefts

California: 208,668

Thefts Per 100,000 People: 534.49

Los Angeles Freeway Traffic 4X4 Blazer 1776, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1: Percentage Increase

District of Columbia: 64%

The DoC also placed first on the list of Thefts Per 100,000 People: 1,149.71

Monumental Core, Washington, District of Columbia Phil Roeder, Flickr

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December 18, 2024

AUTHOR

Jesse Singer

Jesse Singer is a writer from Montreal who grew up obsessed with movies—and so it only makes sense that he graduated from McGill University with a degree in Political Science. He then put that degree to good use with a job at a video store (remember those?). He followed that up with months backpacking around Europe (a continent he’s returned to many times). And for the last couple decades he’s been writing online, and in print, for a number of different sites and publications covering everything from film & TV to website reviews, dating & culture, history, news, and sports. He’s worn many hats—which is ironic, because he loves wearing hats and has a rather sizable collection.

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I tried to pay $10,500 for a used car with a personal check, but the dealer refused and pushed financing instead. Can they legally do that?

The Top 10 States With The Most Car Thefts

The Top 10 States With The Most Car Thefts

The State Of Car Thefts In America

10: Total Thefts

10: Percentage Increase

9: Total Thefts

9: Percentage Increase

8: Total Thefts

8: Percentage Increase

7: Total Thefts

7: Percentage Increase

6: Total Thefts

6: Percentage Increase

5: Total Thefts

5: Percentage Increase

4: Total Thefts

4: Percentage Increase

3: Total Thefts

3: Percentage Increase

2: Total Thefts

2: Percentage Increase

1: Total Thefts

1: Percentage Increase

READ MORE

10 Mistakes To Avoid When Shopping For A New Vehicle

I tried to pay $10,500 for a used car with a personal check, but the dealer refused and pushed financing instead. Can they legally do that?

My HOA says visitors can't park pickup trucks overnight because they consider them "work vehicles." Can they legally discriminate by vehicle type?

My husband rolled $18,000 of debt from his old SUV into a new truck loan and says the monthly payment is all that matters. How bad is this?

My mechanic says my car needs a special battery because of start-stop technology. Are modern batteries becoming too expensive?

My brother returned my car with an empty battery after blasting music and AC for hours. Is it petty to send him the repair bill?

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