10 Most Commonly Stolen Items From Vehicles

Vehicle theft isn’t always the main aim for criminals, there are several valuable items held within a vehicle that are likely to be points of interest also.

Generally, items stolen will be small and easy-to-conceal, as these can be sold on quickly with minimal risk of capture from the Police. 

Items generally taken from vehicles will be the ones that are small, easy to conceal, and can be quickly sold on for profit.

Being the USA's leading provider of parking lot surveillance cameras, we’ve collected the 10 items most likely to be stolen from vehicles, and some helpful advice on how your business can support users in preventing this.

The Top 10 Items Stolen From Vehicles

Recent reports and information showed the 10 commonly stolen items from vehicles are:

1. Catalytic Converters
2. Electronic Devices
3. Purses and Wallets
4. GPS Devices
5. Registration Document
6. License Plates
7. Credit Cards
8. Truck Tailgates
9. Garage Door Opener
10. Stereo Equipment

Below we explore why these items are popular amongst thieves:

Catalytic Converters

Catalytic converter theft has become increasingly common over recent years due to the rise  in metal resale value, offering thieves a greater profit than previously available. 

These components are made of multiple valuable metals and easy for criminals to remove, making them the perfect target for theft.

It’s grown so much that Organized Crime Gangs (OCGs) are targeting parking lots in order to commit multiple catalytic converter thefts at one time.

Electronic Devices

Electronic items like laptops and cell phones can commonly be left in vehicles, and unfortunately this places them at risk, especially if they are in plain view to any external individuals.

Thieves will simply break the window of a vehicle and quickly steal them whilst drivers are busy elsewhere.

This is likely to be more common in retail store parking lots and offices as thieves can easily scope out the vehicle and commit theft with minimal risk

Purses and Wallets

Many drivers will leave their purse or wallet behind whilst they quickly go to complete a task or speak to someone, and in that time they’re welcoming thieves to take advantage of this ‘quick’ trip away from the vehicle. 

From smashing windows to forcing entry on the vehicle door, thieves will go to great lengths to make financial gain for themselves.

GPS Devices

Many modern cars will have built-in GPS navigation systems, providing them with some form of protection, but the portable, dash-mounted units are quick wins for opportunist thieves.

They’re often out on display in most vehicles and if spotted by a thief, they are easy-to-retrieve and create minimal risk for them in being captured for their crimes. 

Registration Documents

You may be asking, why would they take a driver’s registration document from their vehicle? But, this document holds important personal information that the thief can use to steal the identity of that person.

This could be to commit fraud or steal from their accounts and although this may simply be a document for the driver, it could be a thief’s golden ticket.

And with most keeping their documents in their glove box, established criminals know where to go to find it.

License Plates

License plates are easy-to-remove from vehicles and are enticing to thieves looking to conceal a stolen car under their possession.

Most vehicle thefts are tracked via license plates, so if this doesn’t match it’s likely stolen cars can remain under the radar easier.

Credit Cards

Due to credit cards being easier to steal and use fraudulently, this makes them a bigger target for thieves. 

Therefore, for vehicles where purses/wallets or credit cards are in view to external individuals, thieves will cease this opportunity for a quick win that will leave the driver with a hefty bill from both their vehicle and their credit card.

Truck Tailgates

Truck tailgates are popular items for theft because they are easy-to-remove and can be resold as spare parts onto repair garages and vehicle owners. 

These components are important for trucks to hold onto any items stored in the bed of it, so if this is removed, it also places those items at risk also and disrupts the functionality of the vehicle.

Garage Door Opener

Similarly to registration documents, thieves’ aims are not always to steal the obvious items or the vehicle itself, but to gain access to additional information and spaces. Hence their attraction to garage door openers.

Thieves will likely rummage through the vehicle to find this item in order to gain access to the owner’s property and commit even more damage to their lives.

Stereo Equipment

Expensive stereo systems are popular amongst thieves, simply due to their value and high resale earnings that can be gained by them.

Thieves will go to extreme lengths in order to make financial gains for themselves, so if they spot an expensive stereo in a vehicle, this could quickly escalate to an opportunistic theft.

How to Prevent Theft From Vehicles

Theft from vehicles is often an opportunistic crime, and as a business, especially those with parking lots, you hold a responsibility to protect users and their vehicles from this type of crime. 

However, this works both ways and as much as businesses need to take the relevant steps, so do vehicle owners. 

Many incidents occur because owners have left their vehicles unlocked or left valuables in sight, increasing their chance of becoming a target to thieves. 

Below we outlined simple steps you should communicate to any customers, visitors, or parking lot users of on how to prevent their vehicle from being targeted:

• Lock your vehicle
• Close all windows
• Remove any valuable items or don't leave them in plain sight
• Put any expensive shopping items in the boot if you plan to leave your car unattended 
• Park in well-lit areas
• Install an alarm system
• Remain vigilant at all times
• Tint your windows

What Steps can Businesses Take to Protect Vehicles in Their Parking Lot?

In addition to advising any parking lot users of steps they can take to protect their vehicles, you should also implement changes as a business to protect them too. 

Not doing so threatens the reputation of your business and in the worst case scenario leads to legal consequences, if found that you have neglected your security.

Therefore, having supported multiple businesses with securing their parking lots, we formed 4 key steps we’d recommend all businesses implement:

Increase Visibility and Lighting

Most crime happens under cover of darkness, so take the simple step to increase the visibility in your parking lot and install lighting, especially in blind spots or natural dark areas in which thieves will use to their advantage.

Criminals will always be looking for minimal risks when stealing from vehicles and lighting removes that security of their identity remaining hidden.

Consider the layout of your parking lot carefully before implementing any lighting, you’ll need to ensure it doesn’t interfere with any surveillance cameras or not cover key spaces.

Access Our Full Guide on Parking Lot Security

Access Control

Every parking lot works differently, with some being closed to only those authorized to use the parking lot and others being completely open to the public. 

However, in all instances you can increase your access control in some capacity to improve the security of vehicles there.

For public parking lots, you can limit entry/exit points, install external surveillance systems, implement LPR solutions, and have security guards patrol the parking lot.

Whereas for private parking lots, you can have security guard units on the entry/exit point, implement authorization signage, utilise perimeter fencing and gates, and implement surveillance systems.

Implement Physical Criminal Deterrents

Physical criminal deterrents act as a form of prevention to any thieves looking to steal from vehicles. 

It’s a way of letting them know they’re being watched and provides a ‘barrier’ against them and your parking lot users.

Physical criminal deterrents you can utilise to prevent theft from vehicles include:

• Implement perimeter fencing
• Add clear signage to inform criminals of the punishments linked to theft and the reporting process for this
• Install commercial parking lot surveillance cameras
• Employ security guards

Utilizing physical deterrents alone may not be the most effective tool, therefore for complete security, we’d recommend a combination of measures which include surveillance cameras. 

This is because they offer a physical criminal deterrent and live monitoring and recording capabilities alongside this.

Discover the Other Benefits of Parking Lot Surveillance Cameras

Install Parking Lot Surveillance Cameras

Many businesses will implement internal surveillance cameras to protect their business, however, most will not prioritize their parking lots, even though it’s one of the most common locations for theft to take place from vehicles.

But, parking lots are unique and their security requirements can make finding a system that suits this difficult. 

That’s why having a flexible surveillance solution that works completely independently tends to be the most universal, but also effective method in preventing thefts from vehicles.

At LotGuard, we specialize in parking lot security, and created a Surveillance Trailer that is fully autonomous, making them suitable for most parking lot locations.

This means that if theft hotspots appear, you can relocate our Trailers with ease to that new location to monitor that location and offer a physical criminal deterrent to any opportunistic individuals.

Standing at 20-foot tall, they are unmistakable to any potential thieves and are backed by high-quality camera capabilities and service that’s designed specifically to prevent vehicle crime, including thefts from them.

LotGuard: Parking Lot Surveillance System

If you own a commercial parking lot or property and are concerned about protecting the vehicles in your lots, then speak to LotGuard today.

Our Surveillance Trailers provide complete parking lot and dealership security. They detect, deter, mitigate, and report criminal activity 24/7/365.

We can provide them regardless of your site's power or internet availability, as they are autonomous surveillance units. This means they can also be relocated at any point if your security requirements change or new threats emerge in your parking lot.

Ready to learn more about how LotGuard can protect your parking lots?

Call our team today