- New data from the FBI suggests there was a 17% drop in motor vehicle thefts in the first quarter.
- The biggest declines were seen in the Midwest as well as cities with over a million residents.
- While the cause of the decline is unclear, improved security measures for vulnerable vehicles might be a factor.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released their first quarter crime report and it suggests the United States has become significantly safer in the past year. Jumping right into the numbers, there was a 26.4% decrease in murders, a 17.8% drop in robberies, and a 15.1% decrease in property crime.
However, the statistic we’re most interested in is motor vehicle thefts. There were declines across the board and cities with over a million residents saw a dramatic 29% decrease.
More: Hyundai Elantra Dethrones Chevy Silverado As America’s Most Stolen Vehicle
Smaller cities also saw modest declines as those with a population of between 500,000 and 999,999 saw a drop of 11%. Those with 250,000 to 499,999 residents had an 18% decrease in auto thefts compared to a year ago. Jumping further down the list, cities with between 50,000 and 99,999 residents experienced a 13% decrease.
Some of the biggest drops were seen in the Midwest – which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota – as there was a 33% decline in vehicle thefts compared to the first quarter of 2023. The Northeast saw a 21% drop, while the West experienced a 19% decline. Thefts also dropped 7% in the South, which brought the total decrease to 17%.
Those are sizable declines, but the statistics are derived from reports voluntarily submitted to the FBI. The bureau also noted the latest numbers only include data from 13,719 out of 19,268 law enforcement agencies in the country.
Regardless, the data is encouraging as it suggests there was a significant decrease in crime. There’s no word on what caused the drop in motor vehicle thefts, but it’s possible that efforts to secure vulnerable Hyundai and Kia vehicles could have played a role.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said, “When I became Attorney General over three years ago, we knew that grappling with the violent crime that surged early in the pandemic would be one of the greatest challenges we would face at the Justice Department. That is why we have poured every available resource into working with our law enforcement and community partners to drive down violent crime.” He added, “Our work will not be done until all Americans feel safe in their communities.”
