Your Car Is Now 21% Less Likely To Get Stolen, Except in Chicago

Vehicle theft in the U.S. is trending downward. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports 268,415 vehicle thefts to law enforcement in the first six months of 2026, down 21% versus the same period in 2025. That equates to an annualized rate of about 77.81 thefts per 100,000 people for the first two quarters. NICB says every one of the 50 states recorded year-over-year percentage decreases in the first half of 2026. Metro-area data shows only one exception among the top 10 theft markets: Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, where thefts rose 2%. The article notes declines may not mean overall vehicle crime is down, since organized theft may be shifting to other fraud and related offenses.