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

CAR TIPS

DIY Car Maintenance: Simple Tasks to Keep Your Vehicle Running Smoothly

Master DIY car maintenance with our comprehensive guide, highlighting key tasks every car owner can handle. Learn the 'what,' 'why,' and 'how' of maintaining your vehicle for optimal performance. From changing oil to checking tire pressure, we've got your auto care needs covered.

September 17, 2023 Allison Robertson

CAR TIPS

My friend says highway miles barely count compared with city miles when buying used. Should buyers care more about the kind of miles than the number?

Used-car shoppers hear this all the time: highway miles barely count, while city miles are what really wear a car out. It sounds neat, and there is some truth in it, but the real answer is more complicated. Buyers should care about how miles were driven, but they should not treat the odometer like an afterthought.

October 1, 2026 Miles Brucker

CAR TIPS

My mechanic replaced a part without calling me and says it was too dangerous to leave unfixed. Do I have to pay for work I never authorized?

You drop your car off for one problem and get a call later saying the shop already replaced something else. Then comes the kicker. The mechanic says it was too dangerous to leave alone and now expects you to pay for work you never approved.

October 1, 2026 Miles Brucker

CAR TIPS

My friend says an EV battery replacement can cost more than the car is worth. Is that a realistic concern for used EV buyers?

If you have looked at a used electric vehicle and felt a little chill when someone mentioned “battery replacement,” you are not alone. The scary version of the story is that the battery can fail and cost more than the whole car to replace. That concern is rooted in some real early examples, but it is not the whole picture for most used EV buyers in 2026.

October 1, 2026 Miles Brucker

The Slammed-Car Look Comes With Real Tradeoffs

CAR TIPS

My son's friend lowered his car and now my son wants to do it too, but it feels dangerous to me. Does lowered suspension cause real problems?

It is easy to see the appeal of a car that sits low and looks planted. A dramatic drop can make even an ordinary sedan look sharper, meaner, and more customized. But when a suspension is lowered so far that the car nearly scrapes the pavement, the problems go well beyond comfort and straight into safety, tire wear, and parts damage.

October 1, 2026 Miles Brucker

CAR TIPS

My dealership installed a GPS device before financing my car and never mentioned it until I found it. Why would a dealer be tracking my vehicle?

Finding a GPS device tucked under your dash or wired into your car can feel alarming. In many cases, the reason is less cloak-and-dagger than it seems. Dealers and lenders have used vehicle tracking technology for years, especially in subprime auto financing, to locate cars for repossession and sometimes to support payment reminder systems.

October 1, 2026 Miles Brucker

HOME > GUIDES

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.

TRENDING

WEEKLY UPDATE

Incredible car content, automotive deals, and driving tips delivered right to your inbox

TRENDING

DIY Car Maintenance: Simple Tasks to Keep Your Vehicle Running Smoothly

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

DIY Car Maintenance: Simple Tasks to Keep Your Vehicle Running Smoothly

My friend says highway miles barely count compared with city miles when buying used. Should buyers care more about the kind of miles than the number?

My mechanic replaced a part without calling me and says it was too dangerous to leave unfixed. Do I have to pay for work I never authorized?

My friend says an EV battery replacement can cost more than the car is worth. Is that a realistic concern for used EV buyers?

My son's friend lowered his car and now my son wants to do it too, but it feels dangerous to me. Does lowered suspension cause real problems?

My dealership installed a GPS device before financing my car and never mentioned it until I found it. Why would a dealer be tracking my vehicle?

Want to read more?