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

My dealer wants $800 for fabric and paint protection before delivery. Is there any reason not to decline it?

You've finally agree on a price, you show up to take delivery, and then the dealer slides one more charge across the desk. Fabric and paint protection for $800 can be convincing when you're already spending a lot on a car. But in most cases, there is no strong reason you cannot just say no to this last-minute upsell.