Vehicle thefts SHOOK to 1.02 million by 2023 thanks to new hacks on keyless entry systems. Colorado and Nevada are hit hard, but what about YOUR state?
You may need to verify that your vehicle is where you parked it.
Vehicle thefts have increased since 2019, reaching a new high of 1,020,729 cases last year, says the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), a watchdog.
California saw more thefts than any other state, with 208,668 vehicles reported stolen.
But Washington DC is worse. For every 100,000 people, 1,150 vehicles were impounded, more than three times the US average.
NICB chief David Glawe says thieves are simply getting better at cracking the keyless entry systems used today.
Washington DC recorded a 64 percent jump in car thefts last year, the NICB says
Car thieves hack keyless entry systems these days, as well as old-fashioned screwdrivers
They are using “increasingly sophisticated methods” and “advanced technology to bypass security systems,” he said.
“From keyless entry hacks to key fob relay attacks, criminals are exploiting vulnerabilities in modern vehicle security measures with alarming success rates,” Glawe added.
The results show an increase in car theft, even as other types of crime return to more normal levels after pandemic bumps.
The rise is fueled in part by groups of mostly young offenders across the US who post “how-to” videos on TikTok of themselves using screwdrivers and cables to start vehicles and go on joyrides.
Some styled themselves the ‘Kia Boyz’ after one of the manufacturers was targeted for easy-to-exploit security vulnerabilities.
Crime expert David Glawe says thieves are simply getting better at hacking the car entry systems used today
Washington DC’s car theft rate is three times the national average
Currently, four teenagers crash a stolen Kia and run down a busy Minnesota highway, while the TikTok craze of the ‘Kia Boyz’ craze swept the nation
Hybrid cars are often the target of thieves, thanks to the precious metals in their catalytic converters, which sell for hundreds of dollars on the black market.
The used car market also encourages theft, with used car prices up 30 percent since before the pandemic.
The rise in thefts has prompted cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, Richmond and Scranton to hand out freewheel locks to deter crooks.
Thefts across all manufacturers rose from 873,080 in 2020 to 1,020,729 last year, the NICB says.
Washington DC saw the sharpest increase last year, part of a citywide crime wave, with 64 percent more stolen vehicles than in 2022.
A juvenile delinquent explains how to hotwire a car with just a screwdriver and a USB cable
By the numbers, California remains the worst place to park your car on the street
Maryland saw a 63 percent increase.
Connecticut (33 percent), Nevada (18 percent) and Massachusetts (16 percent) rounded out the top five.
NICB researchers also identified hotspots for vehicle theft.
The Washington DC area between Arlington and Alexandria saw a whopping 52 percent increase to 24,119 stolen vehicles last year.
But by the numbers, the Los Angeles area between Long Beach and Anaheim was the worst place to park.
Thieves made off with 72,460 vehicles there last year.
The crime spree continued in eastern Pennsylvania this week, with police investigating 25 car break-ins and a stolen white Honda Accord overnight in Nazareth on Saturday.
Thieves made off with 72,460 vehicles there last year.
Thieves made off with 72,460 vehicles there last year.
Police in South Euclid, Ohio, meanwhile, arrested three juveniles for trying to steal a neighbor’s Kia, while eight vehicles worth $1.2 million were stolen from two North Alabama dealerships in the past week.
Glaw says police, officials and manufacturers must work together to combat the scourge.
The problem is worse because car thieves so often get away with their crimes, he said.
“The consequences of car theft extend beyond financial loss, causing significant distress and inconvenience to affected individuals,” he said.