You're much more likely to have your car stolen in some states than others, new data reveals.
Colorado has the most car thefts per capita of all U.S. states, according to 2019-2023 data from the FBI Crime Data Explore that was analyzed by pre-settlement legal funding company High Rise Financial.
With an average of 51.43 monthly motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 citizens, Colorado tops the ranks, with the most thefts in 2022, when 66.43 thefts per 100,000 were recorded.
Colorado is then followed by New Mexico and Washington in second and third place, with 42.05 and 41.48 monthly motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 people, respectively. New Mexico had its most thefts in 2022, while Washington saw more in 2023.
In fourth place was Nevada with 38.72 thefts per 100,000, and Oregon came in fifth, with 36.95 thefts per 100,000.
The rest of the top ten is comprised of Missouri, California, Hawaii, Tennessee and Oklahoma, with 35.85, 35.19, 33.57, 28.57 and 28.15 per 100,000, respectively.
Nevada, California, and Tennessee saw the most thefts in 2023, while Oregon, Missouri, saw more in 2022. Hawaii had its highest monthly rate of thefts in 2021, while Oklahoma had the most in 2020.
"This research highlights some fascinating trends in motor vehicle theft across the US. For example, the three highest-ranking states, Colorado, New Mexico, and Washington, are all in the western region," a spokesperson for High Rise Financial said in a statement.
"Interestingly, 2022 and 2023 were the years with the highest motor vehicle theft rates in many of the top ten states. This could have been due to the lingering economic effects of the pandemic, causing more people to turn to crime."
On the other end of the spectrum, Maine was the state with the fewest car thefts per capita, with 5.58 per 100,000. The second and third-safest states were New Hampshire and Vermont, with 5.61 and 5.95 car thefts per 100,000 people.
The rest of the bottom ten includes Idaho, Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, New Jersey, Virginia and Rhode Island, all of which had around 12 or fewer car thefts per 100,000 people.
These findings more or less track with Statista data from 2023, which showed that there was an average of 318.7 car thefts per 100,000 across the whole U.S. in 2023, with Washington, Nevada, Colorado, Maryland and New Mexico claiming the five top spots for theft rates.
"Understanding where motor vehicle theft is the most prevalent can be useful for anyone, but it is particularly important for those traveling during the holiday season when vehicles are often left unattended in unfamiliar areas. Travelers should remain vigilant and take precautions to reduce this risk," the High Rise Financial spokesperson said.
"To help protect your vehicle, consider parking it in well-lit areas or under the view of a security camera overnight. Always close your windows completely and never leave valuables in plain sight. Installing an anti-theft device, such as a steering wheel lock or alarm system, can also deter potential thieves."
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about car theft? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
English (US) ·