Updated April 2026 · FBI UCR 2023

Vehicle Theft Rates by City (2023)

Motor vehicle theft rates per 100,000 residents

Per-capita vehicle theft rates from FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data, with the U.S. national average of 318.3/100K shown alongside every city. Of 248 U.S. cities tracked here, 34 report rates above the national average and 214 below.

Murder Robbery Aggravated Assault Burglary Larceny-Theft Vehicle Theft

What the FBI Counts as Vehicle Theft

Motor vehicle theft is the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle — automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles meeting FBI definition. The category excludes farm equipment, bulldozers, airplanes, and watercraft. Motor vehicle theft is the single property-crime category that has risen sharply across many U.S. metros since 2019, driven partly by social-media-amplified vulnerabilities in specific keyless-ignition vehicle models and partly by changes in vehicle storage patterns.

National Pattern for Vehicle Theft

The U.S. national motor vehicle theft rate is 318.3 per 100,000 residents. Vehicle theft is the standout outlier in recent FBI data, with sharp increases in many metros since 2022. Two factors drive the broader pattern: a viral social-media trend exposing keyless-ignition vulnerabilities in specific vehicle models, and pandemic-era shifts in vehicle storage and street parking density. Targeted prevention measures — anti-theft devices, garage parking, lighting — have measurable effects, and several manufacturers have rolled out retrofit fixes for the most vulnerable models.

How to Read Vehicle Theft Rates by City

Vehicle theft has been the most volatile FBI category in the past five years. Cities with above-average rates of the most-targeted vehicle models tend to show the sharpest jumps. Anti-theft devices, garage parking, and the manufacturer software fixes rolled out from 2023 onward all matter for individual exposure.

City-level rates always smooth over neighborhood-level variation. A useful complement is your local police department's open-data portal, which usually publishes district- or beat-level offense counts. The FBI Crime Data Explorer is the canonical source for the figures shown below; the Bureau of Justice Statistics publishes additional context on the share of vehicle theft that goes unreported to police.

Cohort Ranked by Vehicle Theft Rate

#	City	Population	Vehicle Theft/100K	vs National	Safety Score
1	Norfolk, VA	238K	421.9	+33%	C
2	Oklahoma City, OK	681K	401.4	+26%	C
3	Jacksonville, FL	955K	397.8	+25%	D
4	Mesa, AZ	504K	397.8	+25%	D
5	Oxnard, CA	202K	389.2	+22%	D
6	Evansville, IN	117K	381.7	+20%	C
7	Lakewood, CO	156K	381.7	+20%	C
8	Kansas City, MO	508K	371.7	+17%	C
9	Moreno Valley, CA	212K	366.5	+15%	C
10	Durham, NC	284K	366.5	+15%	C
11	Riverside, CA	315K	363.2	+14%	B
12	Irvine, CA	308K	363.2	+14%	B
13	Salt Lake City, UT	200K	356.5	+12%	C
14	Gainesville, FL	141K	356.5	+12%	C
15	Salem, OR	179K	356.5	+12%	D
16	Murrieta, CA	113K	356.5	+12%	D
17	Buffalo, NY	278K	356.5	+12%	D
18	Nashville, TN	689K	354.6	+11%	B
19	Fort Worth, TX	919K	354.6	+11%	D
20	Cary, NC	175K	352.1	+11%	B
21	Ontario, CA	175K	352.1	+11%	C
22	Manchester, NH	116K	352.1	+11%	C
23	San Bernardino, CA	222K	339.4	+7%	C
24	Los Angeles, CA	4.0M	338.2	+6%	C
25	Baton Rouge, LA	228K	337.7	+6%	B
26	Tampa, FL	400K	332.4	+4%	C
27	Torrance, CA	144K	331.6	+4%	C
28	Corona, CA	157K	331.6	+4%	D
29	Simi Valley, CA	127K	331.6	+4%	D
30	Fresno, CA	542K	330.4	+4%	D
31	Fargo, ND	126K	328.6	+3%	B
32	Cape Coral, FL	194K	328.6	+3%	C
33	Winston-Salem, NC	250K	323.8	+2%	C
34	Providence, RI	191K	322.5	+1%	C
35	Dallas, TX	1.3M	313.5	-2%	D
36	Boston, MA	676K	312.7	-2%	C
37	Virginia Beach, VA	459K	312.6	-2%	C
38	Miami, FL	442K	312.4	-2%	B
39	Newark, NJ	312K	308.8	-3%	C
40	Miramar, FL	135K	307.1	-4%	C
41	San Jose, CA	1.0M	306.6	-4%	B
42	Killeen, TX	153K	305.5	-4%	B
43	Joliet, IL	150K	305.5	-4%	C
44	Cleveland, OH	373K	301.7	-5%	C
45	Tallahassee, FL	196K	300.8	-5%	C
46	Centennial, CO	108K	300.8	-5%	C
47	Savannah, GA	148K	293	-8%	B
48	Surprise, AZ	142K	293	-8%	B
49	Palmdale, CA	169K	293	-8%	C
50	Plano, TX	285K	291.1	-9%	C
51	San Diego, CA	1.4M	288.3	-9%	C
52	Boise, ID	236K	286.3	-10%	C
53	Wichita, KS	398K	286.3	-10%	D
54	Corpus Christi, TX	318K	286.3	-10%	D
55	Chicago, IL	2.7M	283.2	-11%	B
56	Clearwater, FL	117K	282.9	-11%	C
57	Columbia, MO	126K	282.9	-11%	D
58	Paterson, NJ	160K	282.9	-11%	D
59	Hampton, VA	137K	282.9	-11%	D
60	Sterling Heights, MI	134K	282.7	-11%	B
61	Shreveport, LA	188K	282.7	-11%	C
62	Elk Grove, CA	176K	279.4	-12%	C
63	Overland Park, KS	197K	279.4	-12%	C
64	Sparks, NV	108K	279.4	-12%	D
65	Tacoma, WA	219K	270.9	-15%	C
66	Warwick, RI	83K	269.1	-15%	B
67	Grand Rapids, MI	199K	263.4	-17%	C
68	Carrollton, TX	133K	263.4	-17%	C
69	Scottsdale, AZ	241K	263.2	-17%	B
70	Charlotte, NC	875K	263	-17%	C
71	Seattle, WA	749K	261.9	-18%	C
72	Montgomery, AL	201K	260.3	-18%	D
73	Phoenix, AZ	1.7M	260.2	-18%	C
74	Charleston, SC	150K	259	-19%	B
75	Thousand Oaks, CA	127K	259	-19%	D
76	Orlando, FL	308K	258.6	-19%	B
77	Minneapolis, MN	430K	258.4	-19%	B
78	Worcester, MA	207K	258.4	-19%	B
79	Murfreesboro, TN	153K	258.3	-19%	B
80	Bridgeport, CT	149K	258.3	-19%	B
81	Fishers, IN	101K	258.3	-19%	B
82	San Francisco, CA	874K	253.7	-20%	C
83	College Station, TX	121K	253.3	-20%	B
84	Lubbock, TX	264K	251.1	-21%	C
85	Peoria, AZ	191K	245.1	-23%	B
86	Provo, UT	115K	245.1	-23%	B
87	Toledo, OH	271K	239.1	-25%	C
88	Hartford, CT	121K	238.1	-25%	B
89	League City, TX	115K	238.1	-25%	B
90	New York, NY	8.3M	237.7	-25%	C
91	Akron, OH	190K	237.6	-25%	B
92	Reno, NV	264K	237.6	-25%	C
93	McKinney, TX	195K	237.6	-25%	D
94	Alexandria, VA	159K	237.6	-25%	D
95	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	178K	235.5	-26%	B
96	Lakeland, FL	113K	235.5	-26%	B
97	Lewisville, TX	112K	235.5	-26%	B
98	Concord, CA	129K	235.5	-26%	D
99	Lansing, MI	113K	235.5	-26%	D
100	Independence, MO	123K	235.5	-26%	D
101	Lancaster, CA	174K	234	-26%	B
102	West Palm Beach, FL	117K	233.8	-27%	B
103	Springfield, IL	114K	233.8	-27%	B
104	Hayward, CA	163K	233.8	-27%	C
105	Austin, TX	979K	232.8	-27%	C
106	Richmond, VA	227K	231.6	-27%	B
107	Atlanta, GA	499K	231.6	-27%	D
108	Denver, CO	716K	229.5	-28%	D
109	Escondido, CA	151K	227.2	-29%	B
110	Meridian, ID	118K	227.2	-29%	B
111	Port St. Lucie, FL	205K	222.2	-30%	B
112	Hialeah, FL	223K	222.2	-30%	B
113	Jersey City, NJ	292K	222.2	-30%	C
114	Rapid City, SD	78K	219.3	-31%	B
115	Bangor, ME	32K	219.3	-31%	D
116	New Orleans, LA	384K	218	-32%	D
117	Gilbert, AZ	268K	218	-32%	D
118	Roseville, CA	148K	217.2	-32%	C
119	Victorville, CA	135K	217.2	-32%	C
120	Pittsburgh, PA	303K	217	-32%	C
121	Sioux Falls, SD	193K	216.4	-32%	C
122	Bellevue, WA	152K	216.4	-32%	C
123	Green Bay, WI	107K	215	-32%	B
124	Memphis, TN	633K	214.9	-32%	B
125	Arlington, TX	394K	212.6	-33%	B
126	Tucson, AZ	543K	212.4	-33%	B
127	Westminster, CO	116K	209.6	-34%	B
128	Arvada, CO	124K	209.6	-34%	B
129	Boulder, CO	106K	209.6	-34%	B
130	Broken Arrow, OK	114K	209.6	-34%	D
131	Cedar Rapids, IA	138K	209.6	-34%	D
132	Springfield, MA	156K	209.6	-34%	D
133	Aurora, CO	386K	209.5	-34%	B
134	Cheyenne, WY	65K	209.3	-34%	C
135	Milwaukee, WI	577K	205.5	-35%	B
136	Stockton, CA	321K	204.7	-36%	B
137	Fayetteville, NC	209K	204.7	-36%	B
138	Anaheim, CA	350K	204.7	-36%	C
139	Fort Wayne, IN	264K	204.7	-36%	C
140	Bend, OR	99K	203.3	-36%	B
141	Las Vegas, NV	647K	202.3	-36%	B
142	San Antonio, TX	1.5M	202.3	-36%	C
143	Tempe, AZ	181K	201	-37%	B
144	Waco, TX	138K	201	-37%	B
145	Coral Springs, FL	134K	201	-37%	B
146	Long Beach, CA	467K	196.8	-38%	C
147	St. Louis, MO	302K	196.8	-38%	C
148	Jackson, MS	154K	196.3	-38%	B
149	Peoria, IL	113K	196.3	-38%	B
150	Midland, TX	138K	195	-39%	C
151	Edmond, OK	100K	194.4	-39%	B
152	Sacramento, CA	525K	193.9	-39%	C
153	Garland, TX	246K	193.9	-39%	D
154	Little Rock, AR	203K	193.9	-39%	D
155	Casper, WY	59K	193.6	-39%	C
156	Philadelphia, PA	1.6M	192.4	-40%	B
157	Dayton, OH	138K	192.3	-40%	B
158	Thornton, CO	142K	192.3	-40%	D
159	Oakland, CA	433K	192.2	-40%	C
160	Frisco, TX	201K	192.2	-40%	C
161	Knoxville, TN	191K	189.6	-40%	B
162	Denton, TX	148K	189.6	-40%	B
163	Yonkers, NY	212K	187.6	-41%	C
164	Washington, DC	690K	185.4	-42%	C
165	Cincinnati, OH	309K	184.7	-42%	B
166	Huntsville, AL	215K	184.7	-42%	B
167	Burlington, VT	45K	179.9	-43%	B
168	New Haven, CT	134K	178.1	-44%	C
169	Ann Arbor, MI	124K	178.1	-44%	C
170	Abilene, TX	124K	178.1	-44%	C
171	Macon, GA	157K	178.1	-44%	C
172	Lakewood, NJ	135K	178.1	-44%	C
173	Clovis, CA	120K	178.1	-44%	C
174	Brownsville, TX	187K	177.6	-44%	B
175	Pembroke Pines, FL	171K	177.6	-44%	C
176	North Las Vegas, NV	263K	177	-44%	C
177	Fremont, CA	231K	177	-44%	C
178	Bakersfield, CA	403K	175.6	-45%	B
179	Colorado Springs, CO	479K	174.9	-45%	D
180	Santa Ana, CA	309K	174.9	-45%	D
181	Chandler, AZ	276K	174.9	-45%	D
182	Santa Clarita, CA	229K	174.9	-45%	D
183	Houston, TX	2.3M	172.6	-46%	B
184	Louisville, KY	629K	172.6	-46%	C
185	Baltimore, MD	586K	172.6	-46%	C
186	Chesapeake, VA	249K	170.8	-46%	C
187	St. Petersburg, FL	258K	170.8	-46%	C
188	Nampa, ID	100K	169.7	-47%	B
189	Newport News, VA	186K	169.7	-47%	C
190	Eugene, OR	177K	169.7	-47%	C
191	Omaha, NE	486K	169.3	-47%	B
192	Indianapolis, IN	888K	169.2	-47%	C
193	El Paso, TX	679K	168.6	-47%	B
194	Columbus, OH	906K	168.6	-47%	B
195	Albuquerque, NM	565K	168.6	-47%	D
196	Beaumont, TX	115K	167.1	-48%	B
197	Tuscaloosa, AL	100K	165.7	-48%	C
198	Oceanside, CA	176K	160.1	-50%	C
199	West Jordan, UT	117K	160.1	-50%	C
200	Round Rock, TX	133K	158.9	-50%	C
201	Topeka, KS	127K	158.2	-50%	B
202	Tulsa, OK	413K	157.8	-50%	B
203	Raleigh, NC	468K	157.8	-50%	D
204	Greensboro, NC	299K	157.8	-50%	D
205	Federal Way, WA	101K	154.6	-51%	C
206	Rockford, IL	149K	154.6	-51%	C
207	Anchorage, AK	291K	154.5	-51%	B
208	Des Moines, IA	214K	154.5	-51%	B
209	Rochester, NY	211K	154.5	-51%	B
210	Lexington, KY	323K	154.5	-51%	C
211	Lincoln, NE	291K	154.5	-51%	C
212	Chula Vista, CA	275K	153.9	-52%	B
213	Laredo, TX	255K	153.9	-52%	B
214	Glendale, AZ	248K	153.9	-52%	B
215	Fontana, CA	215K	153.9	-52%	D
216	Vallejo, CA	122K	153.2	-52%	A
217	Visalia, CA	141K	153.2	-52%	A
218	Norman, OK	128K	153.2	-52%	C
219	Sunnyvale, CA	156K	153.2	-52%	C
220	Portland, OR	653K	151.7	-52%	B
221	Naperville, IL	150K	142.7	-55%	B
222	Palm Bay, FL	120K	142.7	-55%	B
223	Billings, MT	117K	142.7	-55%	B
224	Charleston, WV	47K	141.6	-56%	C
225	Henderson, NV	320K	140.3	-56%	B
226	Tyler, TX	106K	139.8	-56%	C
227	Pasadena, TX	152K	139.3	-56%	B
228	Mobile, AL	187K	139.3	-56%	B
229	Birmingham, AL	201K	138.5	-56%	A
230	Madison, WI	270K	138.5	-56%	C
231	Spokane, WA	229K	138.5	-56%	C
232	Amarillo, TX	200K	138.5	-56%	C
233	Pomona, CA	151K	126.9	-60%	B
234	Clarksville, TN	167K	126.9	-60%	C
235	Pasadena, CA	139K	125.3	-61%	A
236	Wilmington, NC	115K	125.3	-61%	A
237	Springfield, MO	169K	125.3	-61%	C
238	Augusta, GA	202K	122.9	-61%	C
239	Bismarck, ND	74K	113.5	-64%	B
240	Columbia, SC	137K	111.2	-65%	C
241	Modesto, CA	218K	107.7	-66%	A
242	Honolulu, HI	351K	107.7	-66%	C
243	Irving, TX	257K	107.7	-66%	C
244	Pueblo, CO	112K	97.5	-69%	A
245	Chattanooga, TN	181K	97.5	-69%	B
246	Garden Grove, CA	173K	97.5	-69%	B
247	Pearland, TX	126K	97.5	-69%	B
248	Santa Rosa, CA	178K	97.5	-69%	B

All rates per 100,000 residents. National average: 318.3/100K. Source: FBI UCR 2023, accessed via the FBI Crime Data Explorer.

How Vehicle Theft Fits Into the Safety Context Score

The Safety Context Score combines three FBI UCR signals: per-capita violent crime versus the U.S. average (40%), per-capita property crime versus the U.S. average (30%), and the direction of the 5-year trend (30%). Vehicle Theft is part of the property crime composite, so a city's vehicle theft rate flows into one of the two crime-rate components alongside the other offenses in that group. Read the full methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the FBI count as vehicle theft?

What is the national average vehicle theft rate?

The U.S. national vehicle theft rate is 318.3 per 100,000 residents according to the most recent FBI UCR estimates. 34 of the 248 cities tracked here report rates above that average; 214 report rates below it. The U.S. rate itself is computed from the FBI's annual estimates that adjust for non-reporting agencies.

Why use per-capita rates instead of total vehicle theft counts?

Total counts unfairly penalize larger cities. A city of two million residents reporting more total vehicle theft incidents than a city of 50,000 is almost always safer per resident, but the raw count makes the larger city look worse. Per 100,000 residents — the FBI's standard unit — is the only fair basis for cross-city comparison.

How does vehicle theft fit into the Safety Context Score?

Vehicle Theft is part of the property crime composite, which contributes 30% of the Safety Context Score. Property crime — burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft combined — is weighted less than violent crime because the per-incident impact is lower, even though it's far more common in absolute terms. The 5-year trend direction contributes another 30%.

Where can I verify these numbers?

Every figure traces back to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program, accessible at the FBI Crime Data Explorer (cde.ucr.cjis.gov). Population denominators come from U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (bjs.ojp.gov) publishes complementary unreported-crime context through the National Crime Victimization Survey. The data is public domain.

Violent Crime →Property Crime →Safest Cities →Methodology →

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reporting Program (2023), accessed via the FBI Crime Data Explorer. Population denominators from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program. Reporting context from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Public domain.

Last refreshed 2026-04-06 · All rates per 100,000 residents.