After five years of steady increases, car thefts in New York City have finally started to decline. NYPD data shows a 9% drop in reported cases this year, though thefts remain alarmingly high, marking the second-highest total in nearly two decades.
“It’s encouraging to see a decrease,” said Kevin Gallagher, a board member of the New York Anti-Car Theft & Fraud Association. “But we’re far from solving the issue.”
Car thefts reached their peak in the 1990s and early 2000s, when up to 40,000 vehicles were stolen annually in the Big Apple. Advances in security technology brought those numbers down dramatically, hitting a low of just over 5,000 cases in 2018. But the advent of keyless cars has given thieves new opportunities.
Key fobs, Gallagher explained, are a major culprit. Many thefts occur when drivers leave their fobs in or near their cars, making it easy for criminals to exploit the system.
So far this year, around 13,000 vehicles have been reported stolen—more than double the figure from five years ago. And while the downward trend is promising, the scale of the problem remains significant.
Efforts to combat the surge are paying off in some areas. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees key transportation hubs, reported a 33% drop in car thefts at its facilities this year. Officials credit tools like automated license plate readers for helping track and recover stolen vehicles.
Law enforcement agencies across the region have also stepped up their game. From deploying GPS darts to track fleeing cars to creating traffic bottlenecks to catch thieves, authorities have embraced creative strategies. Several high-profile investigations have dismantled organized car theft rings, leading to significant arrests.
Public education campaigns are also making a difference. The American Automobile Association (AAA) has been raising awareness about vulnerabilities in modern vehicles. Spokesperson Robert Sinclair pointed out that many keyless cars don’t fully shut off when parked, making them easy targets if a fob is nearby.
Car manufacturers have taken note. This year, Hyundai and Kia rolled out software updates to address security flaws that had gone viral on social media, sparking a wave of thefts. Drivers who install the updates can even display a sticker warning would-be thieves that their car is now harder to steal.
Sinclair also urged drivers to avoid leaving cars idling and unattended, particularly in cold weather. “It’s tempting to warm up your car before getting in, but it’s not worth the risk,” he said.
