Car thefts up in Michigan and across the U.S.

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Last year across the country, thieves stole more than a million cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The total breaks down to one car stolen every 32 seconds. The National Insurance Crime Bureau says 1,020,729 were stolen in 2023, compared to 1,008,756 in 2022.

Recommendations to keep your car from getting stolen include;

• Park in well-lit areas.
• Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
• Keep valuables out of sight, such as in the glove box or trunk.
• Do not leave your keys in your vehicle.
• Do not leave the area while your vehicle is running.
• If your manufacturer does not provide an anti-theft system, consider purchasing extra layers of protection for your vehicle.
• Consider being current with your vehicle manufacturers subscription-based communications, emergency services and remote diagnostics systems.

Michigan’s Automobile Theft Prevention Authority says the state saw a great increase of the amount of vehicles stolen during the COVID pandemic. The NICB says vehicle theft rates have risen steadily since 2019.

As technology advances, there are some high tech ways to steal cars.

“Many criminals are now using some other type of electronic devices... and are able to start the vehicle even without a fab,” said Chris Baldwin, the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority Executive Director.

There are also some high tech ways to prevent car theft. The experts recommend preventative measures like purchasing an anti theft system.

“Some of them even involve accessing your vehicle through a pin number before it will start,” said Baldwin.

Over the weekend of July 13th, the Jackson Police Department had three separate encounters regarding stolen vehicles. They say they’re pretty frequently seeing cases where people leave spare keys in their car, resulting in a theft.

“A lot of trends I think are created, based on opportunity. So ultimately, it’s hot out there, you leave your car running, you leave it unlocked, there’s a good chance that someone may take advantage of that situation,” said Sergio Garcia, the Deputy Director at the Jackson Police Department.

According to Baldwin, preliminary reports show about 28,000 vehicles stolen in Michigan in 2023. In 2022, Michigan saw just under 27,000 vehicles stolen.

A state-wide and national increase of vehicle thefts... they hope people take steps to stop themselves from becoming another statistic.

“You could become a victim if you’re not protecting yourself, even if you think your car is secure, it might not be,” said Baldwin.

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