Why Car Insurance Rates Continue to Up: Car Thefts Grow over 33% Nationwide Year Over Year
As reported by the Council of Criminal Justice latest mid year update of 2023, Car Theft is the crime that has grown the most Year over Year. As Car insurance rates shoot up, this is the main trend driving the cost of car insurance rate increases across the USA.
In the ever-evolving landscape of automotive safety, recent data has revealed some startling trends in motor vehicle theft across 32 major cities with available data. This analysis spans from January 2018 to June 2023, shedding light on the fluctuating nature of car theft rates.
From January 2018 to March 2020, the average monthly motor vehicle theft rate showed cyclical patterns. However, this trend was disrupted as the rate rose steadily, accompanied by seasonal fluctuations, through April 2022. Subsequently, an alarming spike in vehicle thefts occurred during the summer and fall of the same year. By the close of 2022, there was a disconcerting 26.6% increase in motor vehicle thefts compared to the preceding year and a staggering 67.5% surge compared to 2019.
The situation worsened in the initial half of 2023, with an average increase of 33.5% in vehicle thefts compared to the same period in 2022. This uptick equated to a daunting 23,974 additional vehicle thefts reported across the participating cities. Furthermore, the first half of 2023 witnessed an alarming 104.3% increase in motor vehicle thefts compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
Here are the cities that self-reported the most growth and also reduction on car Thefts year over Year vs. the first half of 2022:
Perhaps the most striking aspect of this data is the disparity among cities. While not all cities experienced a surge in vehicle thefts, seven of them saw a staggering increase of 100% or more in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. At the forefront of this concerning trend is Rochester, NY, which reported a jaw-dropping increase of over 300% in vehicle thefts. In stark contrast, St. Paul, Minnesota, experienced a remarkable 41% reduction in motor vehicle thefts during this timeframe, marking the most substantial decrease among the cities studied.
In summary, the data for the first half of 2023 paints a disquieting picture of the rising motor vehicle theft rates in several major cities. While the reasons behind these variations are complex and multifaceted, it is crucial for residents and authorities to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing this concerning trend. Understanding the specific challenges faced by each city is key to implementing effective countermeasures against car theft and ensuring the safety and security of our vehicles.
