Metro With the Most Car Theft in Every State

Rachmaninoff // Wikicommons

Metro with the most car theft in every state

Anyone who looks at a list of the most frequently stolen cars might be surprised to see that the most common targets aren’t Ferraris and Aston Martins. Rather, the majority of cars stolen today are older Toyotas, Hondas, and other models from the mid-to-late ‘90s. The reason why is relatively simple: There's a lot of them and they're easier to steal. Modern cars aren’t so simple to hotwire with a screwdriver and some basic automotive knowledge—most come with engine immobilizer systems that render the vehicles almost impossible to start without specially designed keys.

Dedicated car thieves have come up with ways to work around this new security, including stealing older vehicles, which has led to an increase in car thefts across the country even as other kinds of property crime decreases. Stacker compiled data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB’s) 2017 Hot Spots Vehicle Theft Report to determine the metro areas with the most car thefts in every state. The NICB accessed statistics on the total number of thefts from the National Crime Information Center for all 381 metropolitan areas in the country. The bureau then took a look at U.S. Census data to determine the number of thefts per 100,000 residents, and ranked those numbers nationally and by state. Stacker has included all these statistics, as well as the numbers from the metro with the next-highest theft rates and the 2016 report for comparison.

Take a look at our list to see which cities in your state have the highest car-theft rates—and next time you’re visiting, consider a garage instead of street parking.

ALSO: Most dangerous states to drive in

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gdns81 // Pixabay

Alabama: Mobile

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 2,010 (up 491 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 485.6 thefts per 100,000 people (up 110 from 2016)
National rank: #28 (#57 in 2016)
Population: 413,955
Metro with the second most car theft: Birmingham-Hoover, AL (Thefts: 3,860; Rate: 335.7 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #62)

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Paxson Woelber // Flickr

Alaska: Anchorage

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 3,274 (up 1,001 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 816.7 thefts per 100,000 people (up 147.3 from 2016)
National rank: #2 (#6 in 2016)
Population: 400,888
Metro with the second most car theft: Fairbanks, AK (Thefts: 388; Rate: 389.2 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #46)

Note: Only two metro areas were considered for this state.

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SD Dirk // Flickr

Arizona: Tucson

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 3,260 (up 624 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 318.7 thefts per 100,000 people (up 18.3 from 2016)
National rank: #73 (#89 in 2016)
Population: 1 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ (Thefts: 627; Rate: 302.6 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #78)

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Nicolas Henderson // Flickr

Arkansas: Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 3,171 (down 82 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 429.5 thefts per 100,000 people (down 58.7 from 2016)
National rank: #38 (#34 in 2016)
Population: 738,344
Metro with the second most car theft: Memphis, TN-MS-AR (Thefts: 5,099; Rate: 378.2 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #50)

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Tony Webster // Wikicommons

California: Redding

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 1,352 (up 341 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 751.4 thefts per 100,000 people (up 188.6 from 2016)
National rank: #4 (#20 in 2016)
Population: 179,921
Metro with the second most car theft: Bakersfield, CA (Thefts: 6,560; Rate: 734.5 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #6)

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David_Shankbone // Wikicommons

Colorado: Pueblo

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 1,353 (up 28 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 812.7 thefts per 100,000 people (down 86.7 from 2016)
National rank: #3 (#2 in 2016)
Population: 166,475
Metro with the second most car theft: Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO (Thefts: 14,791; Rate: 512.1 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #20)

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Iracaz // Wikicommons

Connecticut: New Haven-Milford

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 2,371 (up 77 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 275.6 thefts per 100,000 people (up 4.2 from 2016)
National rank: #100 (#109 in 2016)
Population: 860,435
Metro with the second most car theft: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT (Thefts: 2,523; Rate: 208.5 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #165)

Note: Only four metro areas were considered for this state.

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Ron Cogswell // Flickr

Delaware: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 10,708 (down 61 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 175.7 thefts per 100,000 people (down 1.8 from 2016)
National rank: #198 (#208 in 2016)
Population: 6.1 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Dover, DE (Thefts: 177; Rate: 100.1 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #299)

Note: Only two metro areas were considered for this state.

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tammon // Pixabay

Florida: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 21,179 (up 972 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 343.9 thefts per 100,000 people (down 29.4 from 2016)
National rank: #58 (#58 in 2016)
Population: 6.2 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Panama City, FL (Thefts: 522; Rate: 261.4 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #108)

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Imilious // Wikicommons

Georgia: Chattanooga

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 2,069 (up 188 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 371.8 thefts per 100,000 people (up 24.6 from 2016)
National rank: #52 (#63 in 2016)
Population: 556,548
Metro with the second most car theft: Valdosta, GA (Thefts: 510; Rate: 350.7 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #57)

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Ron Cogswell // Flickr

Hawaii: Honolulu (Urban)

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 2,697 (down 370 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 272.8 thefts per 100,000 people (down 41.3 from 2016)
National rank: #104 (#79 in 2016)
Population: 988,650
Metro with the second most car theft: Data not available

Note: Only one metro area was considered for this state.

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Jordan W. // Wikicommons

Idaho: Pocatello

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 149 (down 9 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 174.7 thefts per 100,000 people (down 12.4 from 2016)
National rank: #202 (#194 in 2016)
Population: 85,269
Metro with the second most car theft: Boise City, ID (Thefts: 1,002; Rate: 141.2 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #250)

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David Wilson // Flickr

Illinois: St. Louis

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 8,130 (up 340 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 289.6 thefts per 100,000 people (up 6.6 from 2016)
National rank: #89 (#100 in 2016)
Population: 2.8 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL (Thefts: 1,064; Rate: 278.3 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #96)

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the.urbanophile // Flickr

Indiana: Louisville/Jefferson County

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 4,920 (down 153 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 380.2 thefts per 100,000 people (down 31 from 2016)
National rank: #48 (#47 in 2016)
Population: 1.3 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN (Thefts: 7,484; Rate: 368.9 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #53)

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JonClee86 // Wikicommons

Iowa: Omaha-Council Bluffs

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 4,007 (up 524 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 429.3 thefts per 100,000 people (up 19.3 from 2016)
National rank: #39 (#48 in 2016)
Population: 933,316
Metro with the second most car theft: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL (Thefts: 1,064; Rate: 278.3 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #96)

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Aviper2k7 // Wikicommons

Kansas: St. Joseph

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 952 (up 301 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 750.0 thefts per 100,000 people (up 240.5 from 2016)
National rank: #5 (#28 in 2016)
Population: 126,935
Metro with the second most car theft: Wichita, KS (Thefts: 3,175; Rate: 491.8 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #27)

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Jesse Frost // Wikicommons

Kentucky: Louisville/Jefferson County

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 4,920 (down 153 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 380.2 thefts per 100,000 people (down 31 from 2016)
National rank: #48 (#47 in 2016)
Population: 1.3 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Lexington-Fayette, KY (Thefts: 1,476; Rate: 287.9 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #90)

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Antrell Williams // Flickr

Louisiana: New Orleans-Metairie

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 4,274 (up 170 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 335.0 thefts per 100,000 people (up 22.5 from 2016)
National rank: #64 (#82 in 2016)
Population: 1.3 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Lake Charles, LA (Thefts: 674; Rate: 321.9 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #71)

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Vasiliymeshko // Wikicommons

Maine: Bangor

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 88 (up 22 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 57.9 thefts per 100,000 people (up 12.6 from 2016)
National rank: #347 (#359 in 2016)
Population: 151,957
Metro with the second most car theft: Lewiston-Auburn, ME (Thefts: 59; Rate: 54.8 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #350)

Note: Only three metro areas were considered for this state.

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Famartin // Wikicommons

Maryland: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 8,499 (up 228 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 302.7 thefts per 100,000 people (down 7.4 from 2016)
National rank: #77 (#86 in 2016)
Population: 2.8 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (Thefts: 10,708; Rate: 175.7 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #198)

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Ironass // Wikicommons

Massachusetts: Springfield

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 1,027 (up 11 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 162.6 thefts per 100,000 people (up 1.8 from 2016)
National rank: #216 (#223 in 2016)
Population: 631,652
Metro with the second most car theft: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA (Thefts: 2,280; Rate: 140.6 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #251)

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Bryan Debus // Flickr

Michigan: Detroit-Warren-Dearborn

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 12,983 (down 729 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 301 thefts per 100,000 people (down 18.2 from 2016)
National rank: #80 (#77 in 2016)
Population: 4.3 million
Metro with the second most car theft: South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI (Thefts: 921; Rate: 286.2 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #91)

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Ron Reiring // Flickr

Minnesota: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 8,472 (up 892 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 235.3 thefts per 100,000 people (down 5.9 from 2016)
National rank: #139 (#132 in 2016)
Population: 3.6 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Fargo, ND-MN (Thefts: 416; Rate: 172.4 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #204)

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Ken L. // Flickr

Mississippi: Memphis

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 5,099 (up 930 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 378.2 thefts per 100,000 people (up 67.8 from 2016)
National rank: #50 (#85 in 2016)
Population: 1.3 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS (Thefts: 1,171; Rate: 297 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #84)

Note: Only four metro areas were considered for this state.

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Visitjeffersoncity // Wikicommons

Missouri: St. Joseph

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 952 (up 301 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 750 thefts per 100,000 people (up 240.5 from 2016)
National rank: #5 (#28 in 2016)
Population: 126,935
Metro with the second most car theft: Springfield, MO (Thefts: 2,686; Rate: 580.9 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #10)

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Ron Reiring // Wikicommons

Montana: Billings

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 952 (up 75 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 558.4 thefts per 100,000 people (down 67 from 2016)
National rank: #15 (#10 in 2016)
Population: 170,498
Metro with the second most car theft: Great Falls, MT (Thefts: 228; Rate: 279.2 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #95)

Note: Only three metro areas were considered for this state.

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Raymond Bucko, SJ // Wikicommons

Nebraska: Omaha-Council Bluffs

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 4,007 (up 524 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 429.3 thefts per 100,000 people (up 19.3 from 2016)
National rank: #39 (#48 in 2016)
Population: 933,316
Metro with the second most car theft: Sioux City, IA-NE-SD (Thefts: 353; Rate: 209.4 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #164)

Note: Only four metro areas were considered for this state.

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IIP Photo Archive // Nevada

Nevada: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 10,624 (down 845 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 482 thefts per 100,000 people (down 100.2 from 2016)
National rank: #30 (#16 in 2016)
Population: 2.2 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Reno, NV (Thefts: 1,922; Rate: 413.7 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #42)

Note: Only three metro areas were considered for this state.

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AlexiusHoratius // Wikicommons

New Hampshire: Boston-Cambridge-Newton

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 5,097 (down 205 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 105.4 thefts per 100,000 people (down 14.2 from 2016)
National rank: #293 (#275 in 2016)
Population: 4.8 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Manchester-Nashua, NH (Thefts: 257; Rate: 62.7 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #343)

Note: Only two metro areas were considered for this state.

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Famartin // Wikicommons

New Jersey: Trenton

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 763 (up 68 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 203.6 thefts per 100,000 people (up 7.6 from 2016)
National rank: #169 (#183 in 2016)
Population: 374,733
Metro with the second most car theft: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (Thefts: 10,708; Rate: 175.7 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #198)

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Will Keightley // Flickr

New Mexico: Albuquerque

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 9,989 (down 22 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 1096.8 thefts per 100,000 people (down 17.2 from 2016)
National rank: #1 (#1 in 2016)
Population: 910,726
Metro with the second most car theft: Santa Fe, NM (Thefts: 384; Rate: 258.2 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #111)

Note: Only four metro areas were considered for this state.

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Pete716 // Wikicommons

New York: Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 1,412 (down 106 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 124.2 thefts per 100,000 people (down 10.8 from 2016)
National rank: #273 (#258 in 2016)
Population: 1.1 million
Metro with the second most car theft: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (Thefts: 21,283; Rate: 104.7 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #294)

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Jessica S. // Flickr

North Carolina: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 913 (up 184 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 249.1 thefts per 100,000 people (up 49.6 from 2016)
National rank: #128 (#178 in 2016)
Population: 366,534
Metro with the second most car theft: Fayetteville, NC (Thefts: 919; Rate: 237.7 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #136)

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikicommons

North Dakota: Bismarck

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 269 (down 45 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 203.6 thefts per 100,000 people (down 85.1 from 2016)
National rank: #170 (#97 in 2016)
Population: 132,142
Metro with the second most car theft: Fargo, ND-MN (Thefts: 416; Rate: 172.4 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #204)

Note: Only three metro areas were considered for this state.

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Erik Drost // Wikicommons

Ohio: Cleveland-Elyria

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 6,070 (down 619 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 294.8 thefts per 100,000 people (down 18.7 from 2016)
National rank: #85 (#81 in 2016)
Population: 2.1 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Springfield, OH (Thefts: 354; Rate: 263.1 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #107)

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JustTulsa // Flickr

Oklahoma: Tulsa

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 5,336 (up 210 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 538.6 thefts per 100,000 people (down 43.4 from 2016)
National rank: #16 (#17 in 2016)
Population: 990,706
Metro with the second most car theft: Oklahoma City, OK (Thefts: 4,499; Rate: 325.1 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #69)

Note: Only four metro areas were considered for this state.

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Jeff Hintzman // Flickr

Oregon: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 12,577 (up 2,943 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 512.7 thefts per 100,000 people (up 76.2 from 2016)
National rank: #19 (#41 in 2016)
Population: 2.5 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Grants Pass, OR (Thefts: 359; Rate: 415.7 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #41)

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12019 // Pixabay

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 10,708 (down 61 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 175.7 thefts per 100,000 people (down 1.8 from 2016)
National rank: #198 (#208 in 2016)
Population: 6.1 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA (Thefts: 793; Rate: 146.3 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #239)

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Will Hart // Wikicommons

Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 2,280 (down 231 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 140.6 thefts per 100,000 people (down 16.6 from 2016)
National rank: #251 (#229 in 2016)
Population: 1.6 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Data not available

Note: Only one metro area was considered for this state.

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Klinhphotog // Wikicommons

South Carolina: Columbia

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 3,996 (up 354 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 484.3 thefts per 100,000 people (down 24.3 from 2016)
National rank: #29 (#29 in 2016)
Population: 825,033
Metro with the second most car theft: Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC (Thefts: 2,917; Rate: 325.6 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #68)

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Joe Wolf // Flickr

South Dakota: Rapid City

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 371 (up 56 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 252.6 thefts per 100,000 people (up 7.2 from 2016)
National rank: #121 (#127 in 2016)
Population: 146,850
Metro with the second most car theft: Sioux City, IA-NE-SD (Thefts: 353; Rate: 209.4 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #164)

Note: Only three metro areas were considered for this state.

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JonesManagement // Wikicommons

Tennessee: Cleveland

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 463 (up 58 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 378.5 thefts per 100,000 people (up 44.5 from 2016)
National rank: #49 (#69 in 2016)
Population: 122,317
Metro with the second most car theft: Memphis, TN-MS-AR (Thefts: 5,099; Rate: 378.2 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #50)

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Brad Johnson // Wikicommons

Texas: Lubbock

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 1,630 (up 254 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 514.2 thefts per 100,000 people (up 57.1 from 2016)
National rank: #18 (#37 in 2016)
Population: 316,983
Metro with the second most car theft: Amarillo, TX (Thefts: 1,168; Rate: 440.9 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #37)

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Garrett // Flickr

Utah: Salt Lake City

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 6,785 (up 73 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 564 thefts per 100,000 people (down 21.8 from 2016)
National rank: #14 (#15 in 2016)
Population: 1.2 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Ogden-Clearfield, UT (Thefts: 1,100; Rate: 165.3 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #213)

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Jared and Corin // Wikicommons

Vermont: Burlington-South Burlington

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 159 (up 26 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 72.8 thefts per 100,000 people (up 11.5 from 2016)
National rank: #334 (#342 in 2016)
Population: 218,395
Metro with the second most car theft: Data not available

Note: Only one metro area was considered for this state.

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Will Weaver // Wikicommons

Virginia: Richmond

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 2,854 (up 63 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 220.5 thefts per 100,000 people (down 7.2 from 2016)
National rank: #151 (#145 in 2016)
Population: 1.3 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA (Thefts: 606; Rate: 197.6 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #175)

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Greg Dawson // Flickr

Washington: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 12,577 (up 2,943 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 512.7 thefts per 100,000 people (up 76.2 from 2016)
National rank: #19 (#41 in 2016)
Population: 2.5 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (Thefts: 19,136; Rate: 494.9 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #25)

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O Palsson // Flickr

West Virginia: Charleston

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 1,224 (up 202 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 570.9 thefts per 100,000 people (up 234.9 from 2016)
National rank: #11 (#66 in 2016)
Population: 214,406
Metro with the second most car theft: Parkersburg-Vienna, WV (Thefts: 237; Rate: 260.7 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #109)

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Towpilot // Wikicommons

Wisconsin: Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 6,516 (down 116 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 413.4 thefts per 100,000 people (down 8.4 from 2016)
National rank: #43 (#44 in 2016)
Population: 1.6 million
Metro with the second most car theft: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (Thefts: 24,254; Rate: 254.4 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #118)

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Michel Rathwell // Flickr

Wyoming: Cheyenne

Vehicle thefts in 2017: 220 (down 28 from 2016)
Vehicle theft rate: 223.7 thefts per 100,000 people (down 43.9 from 2016)
National rank: #148 (#113 in 2016)
Population: 98,327
Metro with the second most car theft: Casper, WY (Thefts: 113; Rate: 142.1 thefts per 100,000 people; National rank: #246)

Note: Only two metro areas were considered for this state.