Car thefts surged to a record high in 2023, according to a new study shared exclusively with FOX Business. The report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau released Tuesday found over 1 million vehicles were stolen in the U.S. last year, as part of an upward trend in auto thefts nationwide. Washington, D.C., and Maryland led the nation in car thefts in 2023, with a 64% and 63% spike in thefts, respectively, from the previous year, according to the study.
David Glawe said the high number of thefts in places like Maryland and Washington, D.C., were likely due to lack of enforcement in prosecuting auto thefts. "There is a disparity between the enforcement and the prosecutions and the deterrent effect," Glawe told FOX Business. "You can see some differences depending on where an individual is prosecuted.