Oakland, California, has been identified as the city with the highest vehicle theft rate in the United States, according to a recent study utilizing 2025 data from the FBI, National Insurance Crime Bureau, and the Highway Loss Data Institute. The study, conducted by American Trucks, found that Oakland recorded 1,459 stolen cars per 100,000 residents.
This finding comes as nationwide vehicle thefts have reached a historic low, decreasing by 35% from their peak in 2023. However, the crime continues to significantly impact several major metropolitan areas.
St. Louis, Missouri, ranked second for auto theft, with 1,172 vehicles stolen per 100,000 residents. Minneapolis, Minnesota, followed in third place, reporting 1,141 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents. In March, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey addressed a 35% surge in car thefts, attributing the increase to federal ICE agents' presence, which he argued stretched police resources thin. Dayton, Ohio, was the fourth most dangerous city, with 1,118 incidents per 100,000 residents. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, rounded out the top five, experiencing 1,015 thefts per 100,000 residents.
The study also noted specific increases in car thefts in Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, and New York State since 2019. Vehicle thefts in Washington D.C. spiked by 110%, Pennsylvania by 106%, and New York by 94%. New York City reported an "elevated" risk with approximately 181.4 thefts per 100,000 residents, ranking 188th out of 281 cities surveyed.
John Lott, president of the Crime Prevention Research Center, commented on crime reduction strategies, stating that making criminal activity riskier is key to reducing offenses like car theft. The mayors of Oakland, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Dayton, and Philadelphia are all Democrats. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, whose city-owned SUV was stolen in February, has stated that public safety is a city priority.