Few experiences are more deflating than arriving at your parking spot, only to find it vacant. Deflating, yes, but certainly not rare. Even though motor vehicle theft has dropped by nearly 25% in the past decade, it still accounts for 10% of all property crime. In 2017 alone there were 773,139 motor vehicle thefts nationwide—that's nearly three-quarters of a million stolen cars in the United States in a single year. Where you live, however, has a big impact on your likelihood of becoming a victim.
Stacker compiled a list of the 50 metropolitan areas that are most prone to auto theft, in ascending order with the metro area with the highest proportion ranked #1. The list is the result of an analysis of 351 metro areas examined in the 2017 FBI Uniform Crime Report. The report estimates the average rate of motor vehicle theft nationwide to be 237.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2017, compared to 315.4 per 100,000 in 2008.
Read on to find out if your metro area lands on the list of America's auto theft hotspots.
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2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 364.1 per 100,000 residents (53.6% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 3,606 (0.5% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 16.6%
2017 metro population: 990,384
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 369.7 per 100,000 residents (55.9% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 4,980 (0.6% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 20.3%
2017 metro population: 1,346,961
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 369.9 per 100,000 residents (56% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 2,741 (0.4% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 2.6%
2017 metro population: 741,067
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 376.6 per 100,000 residents (58.8% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 461 (<0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 8.2%
2017 metro population: 122,405
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 383.8 per 100,000 residents (61.9% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 4,959 (0.6% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 11.5%
2017 metro population: 1,291,962
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2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 394.3 per 100,000 residents (66.3% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 2,194 (0.3% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 20.1%
2017 metro population: 556,437
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 396.5 per 100,000 residents (67.2% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 1,678 (0.2% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 37.4%
2017 metro population: 423,228
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 397.2 per 100,000 residents (67.5% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 924 (0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 5.2%
2017 metro population: 232,643
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 408.8 per 100,000 residents (72.4% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 1,083 (0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 4.8%
2017 metro population: 264,936
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 413.1 per 100,000 residents (74.2% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 941 (0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 9.0%
2017 metro population: 227,777
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2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 414.4 per 100,000 residents (74.8% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 3,425 (0.4% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 4.2%
2017 metro population: 826,594
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 418.1 per 100,000 residents (76.3% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 6,587 (0.9% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 8.9%
2017 metro population: 1,575,520
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 420.5 per 100,000 residents (77.3% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 56,241 (7.3% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 0.2%
2017 metro population: 13,375,094
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 420.7 per 100,000 residents (77.4% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 364 (<0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 4.4%
2017 metro population: 86,520
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 428.3 per 100,000 residents (80.6% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 1,158 (0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 19.6%
2017 metro population: 270,396
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2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 430.1 per 100,000 residents (81.4% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 2,003 (0.3% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 8.5%
2017 metro population: 465,669
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 433.8 per 100,000 residents (82.9% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 933 (0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 15.9%
2017 metro population: 215,067
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 444.9 per 100,000 residents (87.6% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 4,391 (0.6% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 16.2%
2017 metro population: 986,951
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 448.2 per 100,000 residents (89% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 2,896 (0.4% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 15.3%
2017 metro population: 646,209
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 450.5 per 100,000 residents (90.0% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 20,599 (2.7% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 12.7%
2017 metro population: 4,572,004
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2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 451.8 per 100,000 residents (90.5% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 2,007 (0.3% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 8.6%
2017 metro population: 444,232
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 452.9 per 100,000 residents (91% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 1,138 (0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 6.8%
2017 metro population: 251,281
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 456.6 per 100,000 residents (92.5% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 1,894 (0.2% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 36.9%
2017 metro population: 414,842
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 458.5 per 100,000 residents (93.3% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 1,267 (0.2% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 13.4%
2017 metro population: 276,313
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 459.6 per 100,000 residents (93.8% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 713 (<0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 24.3%
2017 metro population: 155,133
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2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 464.2 per 100,000 residents (95.7% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 2,614 (0.3% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 14.2%
2017 metro population: 563,140
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 466.2 per 100,000 residents (96.6% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 10,272 (1.3% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 7.6%
2017 metro population: 2,203,346
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 474.9 per 100,000 residents (100.3% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 2,080 (0.3% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 18.1%
2017 metro population: 437,962
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 476.8 per 100,000 residents (101.1% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 4,451 (0.6% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 8.0%
2017 metro population: 933,488
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 479.4 per 100,000 residents (102.1% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 2,219 (0.3% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 4.5%
2017 metro population: 462,877
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2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 481.0 per 100,000 residents (102.8% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 18,627 (2.4% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 14.1%
2017 metro population: 3,872,207
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 486.5 per 100,000 residents (105.1% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 807 (0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 11.8%
2017 metro population: 165,868
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 490.7 per 100,000 residents (106.9% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 4,857 (0.6% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 0.6%
2017 metro population: 989,910
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 516.9 per 100,000 residents (117.9% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 12,728 (1.6% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 34.1%
2017 metro population: 2,462,322
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 521.1 per 100,000 residents (119.7% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 3,861 (0.5% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 7.3%
2017 metro population: 740,904
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2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 521.5 per 100,000 residents (119.9% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 10,431 (1.3% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 3.2%
2017 metro population: 2,000,325
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 521.5 per 100,000 residents (119.9% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 2,414 (0.3% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 16.7%
2017 metro population: 462,905
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 525.3 per 100,000 residents (121.5% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 15,209 (2% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 13.6%
2017 metro population: 2,895,448
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 536.7 per 100,000 residents (126.3% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 25,398 (3.3% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 10.8%
2017 metro population: 4,732,078
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 564.5 per 100,000 residents (138% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 974 (0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 30.5%
2017 metro population: 172,545
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2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 569.6 per 100,000 residents (140.1% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 976 (0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 6.2%
2017 metro population: 171,334
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 582.1 per 100,000 residents (145.4% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 7,005 (0.9% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 1.4%
2017 metro population: 1,203,339
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 592.9 per 100,000 residents (150% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 3,234 (0.4% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 8.5%
2017 metro population: 545,448
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 613.9 per 100,000 residents (158.8% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 216 (<0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 55.3%
2017 metro population: 35,185
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 661.9 per 100,000 residents (179% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 5,899 (0.8% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 9.6%
2017 metro population: 891,188
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2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 674.2 per 100,000 residents (184.2% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 853 (0.1% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 33.2%
2017 metro population: 126,515
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 679.0 per 100,000 residents (186.2% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 1,221 (0.2% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 39.2%
2017 metro population: 179,818
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 828.0 per 100,000 residents (249% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 1,370 (0.2% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 2.2%
2017 metro population: 165,456
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 998.3 per 100,000 residents (320.7% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 9,135 (1.2% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: down 1.9%
2017 metro population: 915,069
2017 motor vehicle theft rate: 1,046 per 100,000 residents (340.8% above the national average)
2017 motor vehicle thefts: 3,279 (0.4% of all U.S. motor vehicle thefts)
Change in theft rate from 2016-2017: up 54.1%
2017 metro population: 313,465
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