The cities with the highest rate of vehicle thefts per capita may surprise you. These are the most recent rankings from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The number in parentheses is the total number of cars stolen.
Cities With The Most Vehicle Thefts Per Capita
1. Albuquerque, N.M. (10,011)
2. Pueblo, CO (1,325)
3. Bakersfield, CA (7,176)
4. Modesto, CA (3,820)
5. Riverside/San Bernardino/Ontario, CA (25,708)
6. Anchorage, AK (2,273)
7. Merced, CA (1,605)
8. San Francisco/Oakland/Hayward, CA (29,414)
9. Fresno, CA (5,682)
10. Billings, MT (877)
Cities With The Fewest Vehicle Thefts Per Capita
Out of 382 ranked by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, here are the safest for your ride:
1. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI (1) Seriously? Only one vehicle stolen!
2. Watertown-Fort Drum, NY (16)
3. Midland, MI (26)
4. Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA (28)
5. Glens Falls, NY (40)
6. Gettysburg, PA (33)
7. State College, PA (33)
8. Harrisonburg, VA (40)
9. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA (52)
10. Kingston, NY (60)
Wow! Hawaii has more to offer than sunny weather and gorgeous beaches! They should be proud of the fact that they topped the list with only one car theft last year.
Protect Yourself From Auto Theft
Be proactive about protecting yourself from vehicle theft wherever you live. The obvious things you can do are locking your doors and rolling up your windows. Here are some others steps you can take:
- Don't assume your vehicle is safe at home. Car thieves look for automobiles that are being warmed up in owners' driveways.
- Don't leave valuables in plain sight. If you have desirable after-market stereo parts, remove them and put them in the trunk (or take them with you).
- Park with your wheels turned as far as possible toward the curb. This makes towing harder.
- Only leave ignition key with valet parking attendant.
- Park in well-lit, well-traveled areas.
Advice For Older-Model Cars
If you have an older automobile without modern anti-theft systems, use a steering column collar, kill switch, quick-release steering wheel, or brake locks. A camera baby monitor on the dashboard can cause a thief to move onto an easier mark. (Keep additional batteries in your glove box so you will always have some handy.) You can also have your VIN etched or stenciled into many parts throughout your automobile. This may deter bandits because they won't be able to strip and sell the parts as easily.
Shift It, Baby
Here is a recommendation many motorists don't think about when shopping for a vehicle: buy one with a standard transmission. Fewer and fewer Americans can drive a stick shift.
Not sure which anti-theft device is the best for your vehicle? Talk to us at I-86 Truck & Auto Repair. We can give you professional auto theft protection counsel for one of your costliest assets. Our phone number is 716-665-2501.