20 Shocking Car Crime Stats (and How to Prevent Them)

Most vehicle thefts occur at the residence or home of a person, followed by highway/road/alley/street/sidewalk and thirdly parking lot and garages. 

Parking lots are still one of the most common places for vehicle crime, and there is a high risk for reputational damage to your business due to this, which means boosting your security measures is essential. 

As well as highlighting some of the worst statistics, we also look at ways to detect, mitigate, and report criminal activity at parking lots.

20 Shocking Car Crime Stats

The national average for motor vehicle theft is 305 incidents per 100,000 people

Recent data has shown an overall decrease in vehicle thefts, however, incident numbers continue to create challenges for Law Enforcement, businesses, and local communities.

Motor vehicle-related crime most commonly occurs between the hours of 4pm to 7pm

Most crimes reach their peak hours between 4pm and 7pm, most likely due to the easier access provided to criminals during these times. 

880,595 vehicles were stolen in 2024

Although this figure has decreased over the last three years, vehicle theft still remains a prominent issue across many States due to the impact it has. Especially with the increase of keyless cars and rise in social media trends, thieves continue to establish new tactics that avoid minimal risks for them.

District of Columbia, California and New Mexico are reported to have the most vehicle thefts

These States are often linked to larger vehicle theft rates due to a combination of having a higher population, vehicle ownership figure and other regional factors like high traffic and proximity to ports. Interestingly, States with higher vehicle theft rates can also be based on the popularity of certain vehicles such as Kia and pickup trucks, both of which are at greater risk of theft.

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 are the most commonly stolen vehicle

Unfortunately, these vehicles have a vulnerability involving on-board data ports that can serve as entry points for thieves with the right technical knowledge to access without causing much disruption.

Tesla Model 3 4WD are the least frequently stolen vehicles

Experts believe that those less likely to be targets of theft are mostly electric vehicles because stealing them is much more difficult and poses a higher risk to thieves. Most criminals will aim for easier targets and electric vehicles don’t tend to offer this.

Ford F Series Trucks are the most popular targets for catalytic converter theft

Like the F-250 and F-350, F Series Trucks are popular in the US and there are high numbers of the vehicle across many States, therefore parts are always in demand. Also, being a truck, it’s easier for thieves to get under the vehicle without needing a jack.

27,609 catalytic converters were stolen in 2023

There has been a decrease in incidents over recent years, catalytic converters are still in demand with thieves due to their often high metal content, which with rising prices have become popular for reselling.

34% of recovered stolen vehicles are recovered on the same day as the theft

Reporting theft to Law Enforcement as soon as possible provides vehicle owners with the best chance of recovery and also helps provide a record to insurers if the vehicle becomes damaged or lost permanently.

The District of Columbia faced the biggest increase in vehicle thefts

Between 2022 to 2023, the District of Columbia faced a 64% increase in vehicle theft, with Maryland close behind them with 63%, followed by Connecticut at 33%. Although, generally, there has been a decrease in reports, some States still face an uphill battle.

An estimated 60,000 people are injured and 500 more are killed in the nearly 50,000 parking lot and garage accidents every year

Two in three drivers pulling shopping centers, parking garages, and parking lots are distracted. This distraction can cause accidents, which can cause injuries and at times, death to pedestrians, drivers, and passengers. 

Washington had the biggest decrease in vehicle theft incidents in 2024

Between 2023 to 2024, Washington faced a 32% decrease in the number of vehicle thefts, followed by Nevada at 31% and Oregon at 30%. Many States have increased funding to help prevent vehicle theft in their area. 

New Year’s Day is statistically the most common holiday for vehicle theft in the US

Thieves will often take advantage of this Holiday whilst many individuals are preoccupied with celebrations and are assumed to be less aware of securing their vehicles during this time. 

Hondas are the most commonly stolen motorcycles

10,631 Honda motorcycles were stolen in 2022, making it the most popular brand with thieves. Yamaha, Harley-Davidson, Suzuki, and Kawasaki all feature in the top 5.

The state with the highest rate of motorcycle thefts is California

With nearly 10,000 thefts in 2022, California leads the way in motorcycle theft.

Over 4 million people were involved in hit-and-runs

Out of this number, over 12,000 of these incidents involved fatalities. 

Newer cars can be broken into in less than 60 seconds

Thieves no longer have to overcome physical obstacles to gain entry, start, and drive away a car. Keyless entry and push-button start are making the process of stealing a vehicle quicker than ever.

California had the most fatal hit-and-runs in 2022

There were 490 fatal incidents of hit-and-runs during this time period, however, Louisiana had the highest rate of incidents in relation to resident numbers. 

The motor vehicle theft rate in larger cities is double the rate in smaller towns

This heightened risk is often attributed to the greater number of vehicles in one location and potential offenders present in urban environments. Also State laws vary which will impact the theft rate in particular cities.

30% of stolen vehicles are used in other crimes

This figure includes cars stripped for parts in 'chop-shops' and resold.

Prevent Your Parking Lot From Becoming Another Statistic to Car Crime

The risk of theft, per hour parked, is considerably high when cars are in parking facilities.

Too often, parking lots are poorly secured, with little to no lighting and blind spots blocking view to vehicles, making it easier for criminals to commit vehicle crime and avoid capture. 

LotGuard Mobile Surveillance systems are designed to detect, prevent, and gain evidence of any criminal activity, whilst enhancing the security profile of your parking lot.

Our cameras feature built-in AI video analytics capable of detecting small changes in behavior such as, loitering. This helps enhance the crime prevention your parking lot receives and allows our remote monitoring centers to intervene and deter in that moment. 

These remote monitoring services are also available to yourself to monitor wherever you are on any device and review footage via a live video feed.

All our products include IR (infrared) cameras that capture crystal clear images even in total darkness, so you’ll always have usable footage to use as evidence in case of any criminal proceedings. 

The PTZ cameras deliver full site coverage, and our LotGuard units can operate regardless of power and internet availability.

We can customize the camera profile of our products, whether it be our Dome or Surveillance Trailers to meet your lot's exact surveillance requirements.

This includes IR PTZ cameras, thermal cameras, license plate recognition cameras (LPR), and four-way multisensor cameras, all capable of delivering live and recorded footage through cellular connectivity.

Contact our LotGuard team today to learn more!