Putting a few simple protections in place can make it difficult for even professional thieves to steal your vehicle. Find out how you can avoid becoming a victim of this costly crime.

After four years of surging vehicle thefts, the number of stolen vehicles in the U.S. dropped to pre-pandemic levels in 2024. Thefts nationwide decreased 17% from 2023 to 2024, falling below the one million mark for the first time since 2021 and marking the largest annual decrease in stolen vehicles in the last four decades, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). 

Nationwide, the top three most stolen vehicles in 2024 were Hyundai Elantras, Hyundai Sonatas, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500s. Mirroring national trends, the top stolen vehicle in Kentucky in 2024 was the Hyundai Elantra. 

If reported stolen in the first 24 hours, passenger vehicles had a 34 percent same-day recovery rate in 2023, according to the NICB. More than 85 percent of stolen vehicles were recovered in 2023. But research has found that nearly half of all vehicle thefts can be prevented. Consider the following precautionary measures to help you from becoming a victim:

• Park in a well-lit area.
• Always take your keys with you, even if you’re just planning to be gone for a few minutes.
• When leaving your vehicle for any amount of time, roll up your windows and lock your doors.
• Keep your doors locked, even when your car is in “drive.” In recent years, carjacking has become a concerning trend—especially in major cities. If someone attempts to steal your car while you are in the driver seat, do not resist. Your life cannot be replaced, but a vehicle can.
• Remove valuables from the vehicle or place them in the trunk. Remember, just because you don’t consider something valuable doesn’t mean it won’t catch a thief’s attention.
• If you don’t have a garage at home, consider installing motion sensor security lights. While lights may not provide complete security, they could scare off a potential thief.
• During winter months—unless you have a remote start—avoid the temptation to warm your car up. In fact, it’s illegal to leave a running car unattended in Kentucky (unless you have a keyless starter system). Cold weather is prime time for “warm-up theft,” leaving tens of thousands of people nationwide the victim of vehicle theft every year.
• Many newer model vehicles come equipped with anti-theft systems. If you have an older model that lacks security features, consider adding a visible or audible anti-theft device to your vehicles, such as an alarm system, steering column lock, or theft deterrent decals. Some vehicle owners even choose to add a tracking system, which can track the location of a car and significantly improve the odds of it being recovered faster and with less damage.
• If your vehicle has been stolen, contact police immediately to increase the chance of recovery. Once you have a police report in hand, provide a copy of that report to your insurance agent as soon as possible. 

While vehicle thefts are on a downward trend, it is important to stay vigilant to protect yourself from becoming a victim of this costly crime.

>> We want you to be safe out there on the road… but accidents still happen. At Kentucky Farm Bureau, we’ve got agents in all 120 counties. Click to find one near you.