Crime doesn’t take days off—especially during the holidays. Unfortunately, major holidays usually show an uptick in vehicle theft nationwide.
While everyone is off celebrating with friends and family, pleasantly distracted by food, drinks, and the holiday season, a car thief finds the perfect opportunity to swipe a vehicle.
And the worst holiday for car theft is right around the corner.
New Year’s Day Is the Biggest Holiday for Car Theft
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) 2020 report on holiday theft, New Year’s Day saw the most stolen cars, with New Year’s Eve not far behind.
Vehicle theft has been on the rise over the last few years, and 2021 showed no promising improvements. As research from NICB shows, from June 2020, the United States has experienced a 13% increase in auto thefts, with 41 states seeing an increase over the previous year—a trend that has continued throughout 2021.
While there isn’t a definite reason why New Year’s Day is the number one holiday for car theft, it’s safe to assume that with people leaving cars in lots overnight or sleeping off a night of partying, thieves have an easier time driving off unnoticed.
What the Numbers Say
According to data from the NICB, the top 11 holidays for vehicle theft are:
- New Year’s Day (2,320)
- Labor Day (2,222)
- President’s Day (2,204)
- New Year’s Eve (2,201)
- Halloween (2,191)
- Valentine’s Day (2,174)
- Memorial Day (2,162)
- Christmas Eve (2,011)
- Independence Day (1,995)
- Thanksgiving (1,683)
- Christmas Day (1,580)
On any given day, there are an average of 2,175 vehicles stolen across the nation. The top states for vehicle theft are California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Washington.
Vehicle Theft Prevention Tips
While vehicle theft might not always be preventable, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce your chances of falling victim. The NICB recommends the following layers of protection:
- Common sense – don’t leave your keys in the ignition or anywhere in the car, double-check that you’ve locked car doors and windows, and always park in well-lit areas.
- Warning device – make sure your car is enabled with a visible or audible security device, such as a blinking alarm, steering collars, or locks.
- Immobilizing device – for added security, invest in a device that prevents your vehicle from being hot-wired, including smart keys, fuse cut-offs, kill switches, or wireless ignition authentication.
- GPS device – last but certainly not least, install a GPS device that will give you instant visibility of your car’s location. In the event your car is stolen, these devices often streamline vehicle recovery for law enforcement.
Click here to read about theft prevention tips for keyless cars.
Ring in the New Year with an Added Layer of Protection
Enjoy peace of mind this holiday season by ensuring extra car protection with a stolen vehicle recovery device.
Elo GPS offers real-time location data coupled with stolen vehicle recovery service. Our 24/7 vehicle recovery hotline facilitates speedy vehicle recovery, providing drivers with peace of mind. Once a police report has been filed, our team of recovery specialists will work with local law enforcement to recover the vehicle in a safe and timely manner.
Contact our team of specialists to discover more about how our recovery technology safeguards your vehicle.