Missouri Vehicle Thefts are Skyrocketing

New data reveals some surprises about vehicle theft numbers in Missouri. The fact that thieves are stealing more wheels than ever sadly isn't shocking, but the top vehicles they're grabbing most often is.

Just a few days ago, MarketWatch shared car theft statistics for 2024. Missouri is suddenly near the top in two disturbing categories. The Show Me State is top 10 in the raw numbers of vehicles stolen in the past year with 27,279 being nabbed by villains.

Missouri has also surged ahead of many other states and is now ranked 7th in America for vehicles stolen per capita averaging 441.61 for every 100,000 people.

Here are some examples. This stolen Missouri vehicle was reported just 8 days ago.

Then, just 3 weeks ago, a Missouri woman found her stolen car completely gutted.

There are so many examples of stolen vehicles in Missouri, they're almost too numerous to mention.

What Missouri vehicles are being stolen most often?

The number one car model in America when it comes to vehicle thefts is the Hyundai Elantra followed by the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is the top pickup truck in the list coming in as the 4th most stolen vehicle.

What can you do to limit your exposure to vehicle theft?

The Market Watch article recommends not leaving valuables in your vehicle and being careful where you park. It should be obvious that leaving keys in vehicle is a big "kick me" sign along with parking in high-crime areas.