Theft of an automobile is an extremely intrusive experience. When your automobile is stolen, your normal everyday life is instantly impacted. There are many consequences of a stolen vehicle, including missed work, problems with child care, the headache of towing and storing your vehicle, making calls to your insurance provider, and the stress of replacing your keys, license plates, and paperwork.
Fortunately, Chesapeake has experienced recent improvements, while many of the auto thefts continue to occur due to a few predictable vulnerabilities.
According to the 2024 Annual Report from the Chesapeake Police Department, auto thefts drop from 465 in 2023 to 292 in 2024, representing a 37% decrease per the Police Department’s report.
This drop represents a very positive change but does not indicate that people should stop paying attention to these vulnerabilities. Rather, this shows that understanding the vulnerabilities and mitigating them helps keep you off the list of people who have their vehicles stolen.
What Auto Theft Means in Crime Reporting
When you see auto theft or motor vehicle theft, these terms refer to the actual theft of a vehicle and not simply to the fact that someone has broken into a vehicle or stolen items from it, and the way we prevent both crimes is quite different.
For example, the primary purpose of break in theft prevention is to keep your personal possessions out of sight to minimize the chance of a break in (smash and grab), while the main focus of theft prevention for a vehicle is to protect the vehicle from being stolen through using a key, an immobilizer, or multiple layers of delay, as well as where a vehicle is parked.
The Chesapeake Department of Police Services categorizes Auto Theft as a separate type of property crime in its 2024 Crime Report, along with burglary and larceny.
As part of that same section, the department also reports a broader 4.32% decrease in overall property crimes. The department gives you both a clearer sense of what to expect based on those numbers and practical guidance on what to do. However, the way you live each day and the amount of opportunity available to you play a much larger role in determining your probability of being a victim of auto theft.
The Chesapeake Trend Snapshot
Chesapeake’s most recent statistics indicate a significant downward trend regarding auto thefts.
A reduction of that magnitude suggests that enforcement, deterrence, and community behaviors have improved over time. Additionally, Chesapeake is part of a larger trend that has been observed within the state and at the national level.
As Chesapeake does not exist in a vacuum, it is helpful for local authorities to work with national organizations to discuss how both local and national efforts continue to move in the same general direction.
How Vehicles Are Actually Getting Stolen Right Now
Theft in the real world is usually not glamorous, long, or complicated like a movie. In fact, most thefts happen quickly, often by chance, or while other people are not paying attention.
One common type of theft is what we call easy take thefts. These happen when someone forgets to lock their car and leaves the keys inside, leaves the engine running while they walk away, and so on.
As mentioned earlier, NICB’s prevention guide advises you to stop leaving your keys in the vehicle and to stop walking away from a running vehicle because these two habits account for the majority of car thefts.
The second common type of theft is what we call modern access thefts. These occur when criminals exploit weaknesses in certain model years of vehicles and/or utilize electronic tools (e.g., via a laptop) to access the electronic systems within a vehicle and gain access to vehicle ignition switches.
A good example of this is the Hyundai and Kia thefts reported recently that were mostly associated with Hyundai and Kia vehicles that were manufactured without engine immobilizers.
After the crime wave, manufacturers quickly introduced measures to address the issue by rolling out additional anti theft systems and updates. According to a report by Reuters, these actions were major contributing factors in the decline of vehicle thefts across the country.
The Numbers That Put Chesapeake in Perspective
The local and national totals correlate in that, although they can show you what is happening near you, they also provide a way for you to assess whether trends are widespread (like national totals) or isolated (like local totals).
According to NICB, 850,708 vehicles were stolen nationwide in 2024, and it states this marks the greatest annual decline in almost four decades, with vehicle theft decreasing approximately 17% from 2023 to 2024. In addition, NICB reports that declines in vehicle theft continue into 2025, with the first half of 2025 showing approximately a 23% decrease in vehicle theft compared to the first half of 2024.
Therefore, we can conclude that vehicle thefts are still very common, but an improvement is being made, so it is a good idea to continue treating anti theft measures as part of your vehicle ownership experience.
What Actually Lowers Your Risk in Chesapeake
There is no need for an overly complex system to reduce theft vulnerability; however, it is essential that you have consistency. Consistency is the basis for your starting point with NICB guidelines.
Below are examples of the most basic things to address when preventing auto theft, as outlined by NICB. These preventive actions are the ones that lead to the largest reduction in vehicle theft.
They include locking all doors and windows, parking in well lit areas, and hiding valuables out of sight. Source Then add an additional element that extends the time and effort required of a thief to get into your vehicle; this can include using steering wheel locks, which may seem old school today but often lead a thief to another more appealing target.
If you park your vehicle in a driveway, you may also want to consider placing exterior lighting or cameras that capture faces and license plates on the property to help reduce theft risk. Finally, consider your keys to be the first line of defense. If you use a key fob, do not leave it close to your front door or keep your fob in the vehicle.
If your vehicle model year has been documented as having a higher rate of theft, look into any security upgrades available from the vehicle manufacturer; there is a correlation between upgraded vehicle anti theft systems and decreased auto theft rates.
If Your Car Is Stolen What To Do First
If the crime is currently occurring, call 911; however, if it was previously broken into (and is therefore not in progress), then call your locate police department to report it, because recovery and insurance claims benefit from prompt action as well.
Be prepared to provide the following information to law enforcement: your License Plate Number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), Make and Model, Style and Color, any special identifiers or markings (if any), and last known location/time of the vehicle.
After notifying law enforcement, you should notify your insurance company and your lender (if the vehicle is financed). If you have any tracking devices installed in your vehicle, provide that information to law enforcement and do not attempt to track or retrieve it yourself.
NICB states that prompt reporting of stolen vehicles significantly improves the chances of successful recovery. Source After making the initial report, you should document every detail: case number, contact person, items in vehicle, etc.
Please keep in mind that there may be delays in the recovery process since once the vehicle is located, there are legal issues concerning ownership and evidence status. Also prepare for delays when attempting to retrieve your vehicle as well as what documentation is necessary to complete the vehicle release.
A Chesapeake Reality Check and a Simple Plan
In 2024 Chesapeake has an overall improvement, and the most noticeable is an impressive reduction in auto theft. The most appropriate and wise response is neither to panic nor be complacent, but instead to develop a short checklist that gives attention to:
- Keys should never be left inside your vehicles
- Make sure you lock your doors (setting the alarm)
- Park in a location that allows for visibility
- Use at least one vehicle antitheft device
The national statistics also show that auto thefts are on the decline, but the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s guidelines to reduce auto theft are still basic because these measures continue to be effective. Source
If you want to accomplish one practical thing, strive to make your vehicle more difficult to steal than the next vehicle parked next to yours each time.
