Many U.S. cities saw a surge in car theft during November and December last year. Columbus, Ohio, experienced the sharpest increase, with thefts rising 20.87%. Nationwide, thieves stole at least $2 billion worth of vehicles. Read on to see how the numbers break down and which cities recovered as much as 85% of the stolen cars.
The FBI releases theft statistics through its Crime Data Explorer tool, which covers most major metro area in the country. This holiday theft rate analysis of the FBI’s annual vehicle theft data comes from the experts at WheelsAway.
Some cities saw only modest changes heading into the holiday season. In San Antonio, Texas, for example, auto thefts increased just 2.23% from September and October to November and December.
Columbus, however, stood out. The city recorded a 20.87% spike in vehicle thefts. Nashville, Fresno, and Indianapolis each reported increases of more than 10%.
So what’s driving the seasonal surge? Are thieves targeting parked cars filled with high-dollar Christmas gifts? Are teenagers on school break stealing cars for joyrides? Or are professional theft rings ramping up activity before year’s end?
Without more granular data, it’s hard to say. What is clear is that letting your guard down during the holidays can be costly. But the news is not all bad.
Some cities recover most stolen vehicles
Las Vegas consistently ranks among the cities with the highest vehicle theft rates in the country. During November and December last year, thieves stole roughly $19 million worth of vehicles there. That placed Las Vegas sixth among U.S. cities tracked by the FBI. Yet Las Vegas authorities reportedly recovered 85% of the total value of those stolen vehicles.
That figure appears less like a fluke when compared with Memphis. Authorities there also recovered about 85% of the total value of cars stolen during the holiday season. Even Columbus, despite its sharp increase in thefts, recovered 84% of the total value of stolen vehicles.
Other cities fared far worse. Oakland recovered just 16% of the total value of vehicles stolen during the holidays. Its status as a major port may play a role, as thieves can export high-dollar vehicles overseas.
Denver also recovered only 16% of the total stolen vehicle value. That may seem puzzling until you consider that the city was targeted by a national auto theft ring in 2024. After a crackdown, Denver recorded 658 fewer thefts at its airport alone this year.
