This past year, 1,001,967 vehicles were stolen in the U.S., representing a 7% increase compared with 2021, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), which reported the estimated worth of vehicle theft losses reached $8.9 billion. For some makes and models, the issue became so problematic that insurance companies were reportedly curtailing coverage. Throughout 2022, monthly theft totals routinely topped 75,000 as record and near-record levels of theft occurred throughout the country. This is the first time the U.S. has seen more than 1 million vehicles stolen since 2008, NICB reported. In 2008, 1.05 million vehicles were reported stolen in the U.S. "We are seeing vehicle theft numbers that we haven't seen in nearly 15 years, and there is very little deterrent to stop criminals from committing these acts as they are just property crimes, like shoplifting," David J. Glawe, NICB president and CEO, said in a release. "We must reinvest in local law enforcement, provide the necessary resources for prosecution and community policing programs, and implement early intervention programs given the high incidence of juvenile offenders involved in vehicle thefts." The number of vehicle thefts had been trending upward since 2019, which saw some 803,000 cars stolen. In 2020, it grew to 888,011 stolen vehicles and 937,976 in 2021, according to NICB data. "Remember, practicing good personal security hygiene is an easy and effective first step all of us can take to protect ourselves and our vehicles," Glawe said. "Don't leave your car running and unattended. Always take your keys with you and most importantly, make sure your auto policy is up to date. It is that simple." The above slideshow details the states that saw the highest number of vehicles stolen during 2022, according to the NICB. Related: |

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